❓ Ms. Davies asks about a reported COVID case in Collie. The Minister confirms an 'equivocal positive' and details the testing process and precautions being taken, emphasizing a low risk.
AnsweredQoN 12Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — COLLIE
12. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the very recent reports
in the media that a positive case of COVID has been detected in Collie.
(1) Can the minister confirm
whether this is in fact true?
(2) If so, when was the minister
first made aware of this?
(3) What advice can the minister
provide the house on this very concerning matter?
12. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I refer to the very recent reports
in the media that a positive case of COVID has been detected in Collie.
(1) Can the minister confirm
whether this is in fact true?
(2) If so, when was the minister
first made aware of this?
(3) What advice can the minister
provide the house on this very concerning matter?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question and understand the anxiety
and concern that such reports may trigger for a number of people.
I can confirm that we have had what
is called an equivocal positive in a gentleman in Collie. He had travelled from
Poland and quarantined for 14 days in Melbourne. I am not sure whether it was a
usual test or whether he became symptomatic, but a follow-up test produced an
equivocal result. In these cases, we make sure that we can get a clear line of
sight of the outcome of the test results, so he will be tested again to
determine whether he is in fact a positive or what is called a historical case.
Our strong suspicion at this stage is that his is a historical case, which
means that he is shedding particles of the virus. That can, from time to time, trigger a positive result in
the usual testing process. We will go back and test him again . He is
isolating and all his close contacts are also isolating until we get a clearer
signal in terms of his test outcome. Ultimately, we will determine this through
a serology test. Members are all familiar with the PCR test that detects
elements, or the presence, of the disease itself. A serology test tests for
antibodies, which is the defining characteristic that we would see in someone
who is considered a historical case and is actually shedding the disease rather
than continuing to incubate or host the disease. That is our very strong
suspicion at this stage. We are taking this very cautiously to make sure that
we are prepared for any outcome in this particular case.
Further to the Leader of the
Opposition's question, I heard about this this afternoon. Of course,
the Department of Health had already swung into action to make sure that we had
taken steps, which also included liaising with his employer to make sure that
they were aware of any consequences for them. Of course, at this stage we
understand that the risk is extremely low, or remote. From that perspective, I think
we can all take great comfort in the immediate and precautious work that the
department has undertaken.
thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question and understand the anxiety
and concern that such reports may trigger for a number of people.
I can confirm that we have had what
is called an equivocal positive in a gentleman in Collie. He had travelled from
Poland and quarantined for 14 days in Melbourne. I am not sure whether it was a
usual test or whether he became symptomatic, but a follow-up test produced an
equivocal result. In these cases, we make sure that we can get a clear line of
sight of the outcome of the test results, so he will be tested again to
determine whether he is in fact a positive or what is called a historical case.
Our strong suspicion at this stage is that his is a historical case, which
means that he is shedding particles of the virus. That can, from time to time, trigger a positive result in
the usual testing process. We will go back and test him again . He is
isolating and all his close contacts are also isolating until we get a clearer
signal in terms of his test outcome. Ultimately, we will determine this through
a serology test. Members are all familiar with the PCR test that detects
elements, or the presence, of the disease itself. A serology test tests for
antibodies, which is the defining characteristic that we would see in someone
who is considered a historical case and is actually shedding the disease rather
than continuing to incubate or host the disease. That is our very strong
suspicion at this stage. We are taking this very cautiously to make sure that
we are prepared for any outcome in this particular case.
Further to the Leader of the
Opposition's question, I heard about this this afternoon. Of course,
the Department of Health had already swung into action to make sure that we had
taken steps, which also included liaising with his employer to make sure that
they were aware of any consequences for them. Of course, at this stage we
understand that the risk is extremely low, or remote. From that perspective, I think
we can all take great comfort in the immediate and precautious work that the
department has undertaken.
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