WA’s contact tracing was stepped up today following the report, by Northern Territory Health, of a positive COVID-19 case at the Granites gold mine in the Tanami Desert – some 540 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs.
The mine worker, from Victoria, is suspected to have been infected with Delta variant at the Airport Novotel Langley quarantine hotel in Brisbane and was potentially infectious from June 18 to June 25.
At this stage, WA Health can confirm there have been three flights to Perth between June 18 and 25, carrying 252 workers from the mine site.
Each of these arrivals has been sent a text message and contact tracers are in the process of phoning and speaking directly to each of them.
Of the 252 people being followed up, 177 who arrived on flights on 22 June and 25 June are considered close contacts. They have been asked to immediately quarantine for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19.
The 75 who arrived on the flight on 18 June are considered casual contacts. These contacts are of lower risk given the minimum period of exposure to the case when he was less likely to be infectious.
These casual contacts have been asked to get tested and quarantine until they receive a negative result.
WA Health will update with results as they come to hand. Test results are expected tomorrow and Monday.
WA’s Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson has today provided the following advice:
- anyone who has travelled to WA from Granites Gold Mine and was at the mine between 18 June (midday) and 25 June 2021 is required to self-quarantine for 14 days and be tested immediately (within 48 hours) and at day 11.
- anyone who flew from the Granites Gold Mine to Perth on 18 June 2021 is required to get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
- anyone from the Northern Territory who was not at the mine and has arrived after 18 June 2021 is required to get tested if they develop any symptoms that may be related to COVID-19.
“There is currently no risk to the broader community as we have not identified any cases of COVID-19 that have returned from the mine site,” Dr Robertson said.
“Through quarantining and testing of those who have returned from the mine site we are minimising any potential risk.
“This is an evolving situation and WA Health continues to work with NT Health and health departments in other jurisdictions.”
Follow us on Twitter: WAHealth