The WA Department of Health is taking a cautious approach to a previously confirmed case of COVID-19.
The case completed quarantine at a state-run quarantine hotel and was cleared of infection based on national guidelines.
He is now 16 days after diagnosis, however has returned a positive COVID-19 test following a test for work purposes prior to boarding a vessel.
This positive test result is not uncommon and represents persistent fragments of the virus that cannot infect others. Further testing is consistent with a long-term non-infectious shedder, but further viral cultures and genome sequencing are required to confirm this.
The WA Department of Health believes he has not been infectious while in the community and risk of transmission is very low. However, a very cautious approach will be taken and people who have been at venues that the case visited will be contacted.
The man spent only a short time in the community, visited only a few places and wore a mask.
He has returned to hotel quarantine based on an abundance of caution. Contact tracing is underway, again as a precaution.
People who have been to an exposure location need to:
- get tested
- monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days.
Further updates will be provided if the situation changes.
