WA on high alert after COVID-infected food delivery drivers visited 100 restaurants

WA on high alert after COVID-infected food delivery drivers visited 100 restaurants

Western Australia is on high alert after three locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 were detected over the weekend, including two Uber Eats drivers who visited around 100 restaurants while infectious.

The revelation came today from WA Premier Mark McGowan, alongside the good news that there are no more instances community transmission in the state today.

The delivery drivers are two close contacts of a COVID-positive security guard who is a contractor at the Pan Pacific Hotel - a quarantine facility in Perth. The guard tested positive on 1 May after developing symptoms on 29 April.

According to McGowan, the two food delivery drivers visited around 100 restaurants while infectious and delivered food to 100 different people.

The Premier says these 100 locations are considered "very low risk" by the state's health authorities. Nevertheless, the 100 people who received food from the two delivery drivers are considered casual contacts and must get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until a negative result is received.  

WA Health says anyone who accepted a delivery from Uber Eats or Menulog between 29 April and 1 May or visited a restaurant in the list of sites during the times indicated should monitor for COVID symptoms.

McGowan also detailed that the three most recent cases of community transmission have 58 close contacts. All 58 are required to quarantine for two weeks, and so far 26 of the close contacts have received negative test results.

In addition, 217 casual contacts have been identified, of which 43 have received negative test results.

After the three new community transmission cases were identified in Perth on Saturday the Premier implemented new restrictions, including the immediate closure of nightclubs, the banning of crowds at the AFL, and closing the main gambling floor at Crown Casino.

Everyone in the state has been asked to wear a mask until 12.01am on Saturday 8 May when the restrictions expire.

The news comes as Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout was expanded today, with those over 50 now permitted to get the jab.

Updated at 11.57am AEST on 3 May 2021.

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