A previously confirmed positive COVID-19 case has been forced to head back to hotel quarantine after returning a “moderately positive” test result.
Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson confirmed the news this afternoon, but said Case 1017 was not a “major concern to the community”.
The returned traveller returned a positive COVID-19 result on May 21, after which he was sent to the Pan Pacific for 14 days of hotel quarantine.
He was released on Friday and checked into the Ibis Hotel.
The man dined in a restaurant at the Ibis Hotel and visited an Optus store on Murray Street, as well as a pharmacy in the area.
He wore a mask the entire time he was out in the community.
It is believed 12 people were in the restaurant at the time, all of which are now considered casual contacts.
The maritime worker — who had returned from Colombia via the US — was required to get tested for his work.
The results of his test yesterday revealed he was still “moderately” COVID positive.
The WA Department of Health has labelled Case 1017 a “chronic shedder” of the virus, and is taking a precautionary approach and returning him to hotel quarantine.
“Getting positive tests on a PCR isn’t unusual,” Dr Robertson said.
“We often get people who are chronic shedders. But the test result was more moderately positive than we would anticipate.
“So as a precaution we have put him back into one of our quarantine hotels and have taken further tests.
“His test today was weaker, which is more in line with what we would expect with somebody who is a chronic shedder.”
Dr Robertson, however, said he did not believe the man was a major concern to the community.
“We believe he is a non-infectious chronic shedder,” he said.
“What he is shedding is viral particles, he is not shedding virus.”
While it is believed there are no close contacts attached to the case, WA Health are in the process of contacting those who are considered casual contacts and advised others to come forward to get tested.
“If they have symptoms they will have to isolate, but if they are asymptomatic — and he (Case 1017) has been asymptomatic all along — they just need to get tested and keep an eye on if they become unwell,” Dr Robertson said.
WA Department of Health is conducting further tests to confirm whether Case 1017 is infectious.
It is expected the results can take up to 48 hours.
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE SITES
- Optus Murray St, 237 Murray St, Perth, Friday 4 June, 4.30pm to 5.15pm
- Chemist Discount Centre, Perth, Wesley Quarter, 93 William St, Perth Friday 4 June, 5.00pm to 5.30pm
- Rubix Bar and Café, Ibis Hotel Restaurant, 334 Murray St, Perth Friday 4 June, 6.00pm to 8.00pm.
Anybody who has visited these sites at the times specified — or who is contacted by the Department of Health — is asked to get tested and monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days.
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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMimgFodHRwczovL3RoZXdlc3QuY29tLmF1L25ld3MvY29yb25hdmlydXMvY29yb25hdmlydXMtY3Jpc2lzLWNoaWVmLWhlYWx0aC1vZmZpY2VyLWFuZHJldy1yb2JlcnRzb24tY29uZmlybWVkLWNhc2UtMTAxNy1yZXR1cm5lZC10by1xdWFyYW50aW5lLW5nLWI4ODE4OTIzMTR60gEA?oc=5
2021-06-06 06:58:00Z
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