South West records 15 cases of COVID-19 overnight

There are currently 15 active COVID-19 cases in the South West, the WA Health Department has confirmed. It comes as 115 new cases were recorded throughout the State, four of which came from self-reported rapid antigen tests. While WA health has not confirmed the exact whereabouts of the cases, the surge in numbers also comes after a Year 2/3 class and their close contacts at Allanson Primary School were forced into isolation on Monday. The surge also follows the docking of the MV Ballard in Bunbury, upon which 18 of the total 23 crew members had recently recovered from the virus. The figures bring the State’s total number of active COVID-19 cases to just shy of 500, but none have required hospitalisation. A host of exposure sites were listed in Collie this week, including a popular cafe and a major supermarket. The Wagon Cafe, Terry White Chemist and Reuben’s Newsagency — all on Forrest Street — were visited by a confirmed positive case on Sunday, while Liqourland on Johnston Street and the Steere Street Deli were both listed for Friday. Woolworths Collie and the Roche Park Recreation Centre have also been added to the list of locations. South West residents who have visited an exposure site or are experiencing symptoms are still being urged to get tested, as the region’s first drive-through facilities open. A drive-through clinic in Davenport near Bunbury and in Busselton have opened to expand the region’s capacity and to reduce wait times at other clinics, including at Bunbury Regional Hospital. The new clinics boost testing capacities and are the first ever dedicated drive-through clinics in the South West.