❓ The Minister for Health provides an update on WA's contact tracing and testing efforts in response to COVID-19, highlighting the increased capacity and acknowledging the work of healthcare workers and private pathology labs. The importance of vaccination is also emphasized.
AnsweredQoN 14Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — CONTACT TRACING
14. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the state government's
response to COVID-19. Can the minister update the house on the extraordinary
work of WA's contact tracers during the past two weeks, as well as the
healthcare workers undertaking the massive testing program across Perth?
14. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the state government's
response to COVID-19. Can the minister update the house on the extraordinary
work of WA's contact tracers during the past two weeks, as well as the
healthcare workers undertaking the massive testing program across Perth?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Joondalup
for the question and congratulate her on her recent re-election.
We are all familiar now with the
mantra of test, trace and isolate. These have been important principles that we
have put into action to make sure that we can keep Western Australians safe.
The two key elements of this are the scale-up testing at short notice and the
ability to contact trace and understand how the disease may have potentially
spread within the community and where it has spread. In recent weeks, we
witnessed the capability of WA Health in flexing up its capacity to meet any
challenges associated with contact tracing. Through contact tracing, we can
ensure that a case is isolated as early as possible, reducing the number of
people that the case comes into contact with and, therefore, any spread of the
virus. This has been the key element of our success in limiting the cases that
have recently occurred. In particular, for cases 984 and 986, we traced 396
close contacts and 898 casual contacts. Over the last weekend, 95 close
contacts were identified, traced and interviewed, and 429 casual contacts. Over
this period, we have seen extensive testing undertaken. Over 90 700 tests were
done between 23 April and 4 May. I think we should all appreciate that the
testing capability and the contact tracing capability of the Department of
Health has been a key feature of making sure that we can stay on top of any
outbreak and that we have a clear line of sight of where it occurs. Our testing
in particular has been important. We have the capacity to test up to 18 000
people in our public clinics and many thousands more in our private clinics. I would
like to acknowledge the private pathology labs and the great efforts they have
undertaken recently in joining us to make sure that we can test anyone who
needs to be tested during these incidents.
During COVID-19, Health has been
operating with about 50 full-time equivalents in contact tracing. In recent
weeks, that has flexed up to 100. We have in excess of 750 people throughout
the public sector who can come on as part of those contact tracing teams. This
will continue to be an important element of our arsenal in our response to
COVID-19. As the Premier said, another element has now come into place.
Although we have said, ''Test, trace and
isolate'', now we are saying, ''Test, trace, isolate and
vaccinate.'' If people have the opportunity to be vaccinated ,
they must take up that opportunity. It is important for protecting them, their
family and the community. I echo the thoughts of the Premier who said, ''Whenever
you have the opportunity to get vaccinated, please do so.'' That will
increase our range of options of how we can respond to the disease and make
sure that we can stay on top of any outbreak of the disease wherever it occurs.
for the question and congratulate her on her recent re-election.
We are all familiar now with the
mantra of test, trace and isolate. These have been important principles that we
have put into action to make sure that we can keep Western Australians safe.
The two key elements of this are the scale-up testing at short notice and the
ability to contact trace and understand how the disease may have potentially
spread within the community and where it has spread. In recent weeks, we
witnessed the capability of WA Health in flexing up its capacity to meet any
challenges associated with contact tracing. Through contact tracing, we can
ensure that a case is isolated as early as possible, reducing the number of
people that the case comes into contact with and, therefore, any spread of the
virus. This has been the key element of our success in limiting the cases that
have recently occurred. In particular, for cases 984 and 986, we traced 396
close contacts and 898 casual contacts. Over the last weekend, 95 close
contacts were identified, traced and interviewed, and 429 casual contacts. Over
this period, we have seen extensive testing undertaken. Over 90 700 tests were
done between 23 April and 4 May. I think we should all appreciate that the
testing capability and the contact tracing capability of the Department of
Health has been a key feature of making sure that we can stay on top of any
outbreak and that we have a clear line of sight of where it occurs. Our testing
in particular has been important. We have the capacity to test up to 18 000
people in our public clinics and many thousands more in our private clinics. I would
like to acknowledge the private pathology labs and the great efforts they have
undertaken recently in joining us to make sure that we can test anyone who
needs to be tested during these incidents.
During COVID-19, Health has been
operating with about 50 full-time equivalents in contact tracing. In recent
weeks, that has flexed up to 100. We have in excess of 750 people throughout
the public sector who can come on as part of those contact tracing teams. This
will continue to be an important element of our arsenal in our response to
COVID-19. As the Premier said, another element has now come into place.
Although we have said, ''Test, trace and
isolate'', now we are saying, ''Test, trace, isolate and
vaccinate.'' If people have the opportunity to be vaccinated ,
they must take up that opportunity. It is important for protecting them, their
family and the community. I echo the thoughts of the Premier who said, ''Whenever
you have the opportunity to get vaccinated, please do so.'' That will
increase our range of options of how we can respond to the disease and make
sure that we can stay on top of any outbreak of the disease wherever it occurs.
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