❓ Hon. Colin de Grussa questions the Minister for Health regarding contact tracing practices in Esperance and the publication of exposure sites across WA during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister clarifies the Department's approach to contact tracing and the criteria for publishing exposure sites.
AnsweredQoN 207Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — ESPERANCE
207. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
response to question without notice 179, asked on 17 March 2022.
(1) In respect of contact tracing in Esperance, can
the minister please define what is meant by ''where appropriate''?
(2) Does the Department of Health
currently publish all exposure sites for —
(a) metropolitan locations; and
(b) regional locations?
(3) If no to either (a) or (b), in
what circumstances would they not be published?
(4) Is the minister aware that the Shire of Esperance
was advised by the Department of Health on 8 March 2022 that due to the
high COVID case load within the WA community, the department is unable to keep
up with contact tracing and will not be releasing exposure sites?
207. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's
response to question without notice 179, asked on 17 March 2022.
(1) In respect of contact tracing in Esperance, can
the minister please define what is meant by ''where appropriate''?
(2) Does the Department of Health
currently publish all exposure sites for —
(a) metropolitan locations; and
(b) regional locations?
(3) If no to either (a) or (b), in
what circumstances would they not be published?
(4) Is the minister aware that the Shire of Esperance
was advised by the Department of Health on 8 March 2022 that due to the
high COVID case load within the WA community, the department is unable to keep
up with contact tracing and will not be releasing exposure sites?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) In the very high case load environment, in many
circumstances, WA Health requests—by call, SMS, email , or in
person—that each of these cases undertakes their own contact tracing
process and informs each of their close contacts. Resources are provided to
enable the case to do so. For specific high-risk settings, WA Health maintains
a greater role in contact tracing procedures—for example, in
residential aged-care facilities.
(2) (a) No.
(b) No.
(3) In
metropolitan Perth, exposure sites are not listed publicly if they are not
considered high risk—that is, they are not sites of confirmed COVID-19
transmission. In regional areas, exposure sites will not be listed if the
nature of duration of exposure within the venue would not result in any
individuals being considered close contacts. Furthermore, sites will not be
listed if all contacts are identifiable through other means, or if listing the
site would breach confidential information, such as a private household
address.
(4) The Minister
for Health is aware that the department is taking a practical approach to
contact tracing by requesting that individuals undertake their own contact
tracing activities where practicable. For specific high-risk settings, WA
Health maintains a greater role in contact tracing procedures—for
example, in residential care facilities.
some notice of the question.
(1) In the very high case load environment, in many
circumstances, WA Health requests—by call, SMS, email , or in
person—that each of these cases undertakes their own contact tracing
process and informs each of their close contacts. Resources are provided to
enable the case to do so. For specific high-risk settings, WA Health maintains
a greater role in contact tracing procedures—for example, in
residential aged-care facilities.
(2) (a) No.
(b) No.
(3) In
metropolitan Perth, exposure sites are not listed publicly if they are not
considered high risk—that is, they are not sites of confirmed COVID-19
transmission. In regional areas, exposure sites will not be listed if the
nature of duration of exposure within the venue would not result in any
individuals being considered close contacts. Furthermore, sites will not be
listed if all contacts are identifiable through other means, or if listing the
site would breach confidential information, such as a private household
address.
(4) The Minister
for Health is aware that the department is taking a practical approach to
contact tracing by requesting that individuals undertake their own contact
tracing activities where practicable. For specific high-risk settings, WA
Health maintains a greater role in contact tracing procedures—for
example, in residential care facilities.
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