Western Australia has recorded 17 new local cases of COVID-19 overnight, as the state government launches its third-dose vaccination blitz.
Western Australia has recorded 17 new local cases of COVID-19 overnight, as the state government launches its third-dose vaccination blitz.
During a press conference this morning, Premier Mark McGowan confirmed 15 of the new cases had been linked to growing clusters throughout the state.
The source of the other two cases remain under investigation this morning, with health authorities still working to determine how they contracted the virus.
The number of potential exposure sites throughout WA, which ballooned to 168 yesterday, is expected to grow.
A further 12 cases were recorded among returned travellers from interstate or overseas.
Today’s figures take the total number of active COVID-19 cases in WA to 178.
The new cases come following the closure of a primary school in Perth’s south after a person contracted the virus just days into the school term and attended a staff development day and a classroom.
Education Minister Sue Ellery assured the school community that the necessary protocols and arrangements were followed and confirmed those not required to quarantine would return to school as normal from tomorrow.
She insisted the state government's system of replacing COVID-positive staff or those quarantining was sustainable, with 5,000 casual teachers on standby.
Meanwhile, the state government has launched a two-week vaccination blitz encouraging the public to get their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The state’s double dose vaccination rate for those 12 and over now stands at 91.9 per cent, with 37.6 per cent of those 16 and older having received their first booster.
Mr McGowan said the state government expected an additional 40,000 appointments to be made available at state-run clinics from next Monday, boosting weekly capacity to around 100,000 doses.
When the February 5 border reopening was delayed indefinitely last month, the premier indicated that increasing third dose vaccination rates was crucial in preparing to face the threat of the highly virulent Omicron variant the eastern states is grappling with.
So far, Mr McGowan has refused to be drawn on a new date for the reopening of the state's borders.
