WA records 14 COVID cases among travellers

Aaron Bunch | January 4, 2022

Western Australia has detected 14 new COVID-19 cases as the state’s hard border leaks infected travellers.

All the new cases are interstate and international arrivals and quarantined, WA Health said on Tuesday.

Two are interstate truck drivers who were tested at the WA border and three cases are international travellers.

Six infections were recent arrivals by air from Queensland and three travelled from Tasmania.

None are linked to a Delta outbreak in Perth that was triggered by an infected French backpacker who travelled from Queensland in early December.

That community cluster remains at 18 infections, including the unvaccinated 25-year-old male index case.

All told, authorities have identified 804 close contacts associated with the outbreak with 25 yet to be tested. 

There are also 1452 casual contacts linked to a busy Perth dance party on December 19, many from the traveller community.

Four are yet to be tested.

Meanwhile, it has not been confirmed if an infected quarantine-hotel security guard who was working at the Pan Pacific has Omicron.

He tested positive on Sunday with 12 close contacts returning negative results, two pending and one person yet to be tested.

The infection is not linked to the backpacker cluster and W Health said the case remains under investigation.

About 4500 people were swabbed for the virus at WA clinics on Monday.

There are 53 active confirmed cases in the state and 1121 people have recovered from the virus.