Rising COVID cases in Western Australia have seen the first public health measures introduced since the state’s COVID-19 state of emergency was revoked.
Most important points:
- Masks will be required to be worn in high-risk areas of public hospitals in WA
- It is the first public health measure to be introduced since the COVID state of emergency was lifted
- The measure is a response to the rising number of cases and hospital admissions
From Monday, all staff and patients in clinical areas of high-risk hospitals must wear masks.
WA Premier Roger Cook said the decision was made following a noticeable increase in COVID-19 cases in the community.
“As a result, COVID hospitalizations and the number of sick people in healthcare have increased,” he said in a post on his social media pages.
“We must do what we can to ensure we keep each other safe – especially our most vulnerable.”
Masks will have to be worn around vulnerable patients in departments such as hematology, oncology, organ transplantation and kidney dialysis.
Mr Cook said wearing a mask is also recommended for all staff and visitors to healthcare facilities in all clinical areas.
Masks encouraged at Coldplay concerts
Infectious disease expert Paul Griffin said people with medical problems may want to consider dusting off their masks if they are among the more than 130,000 fans attending Coldplay’s concerts at Perth Stadium this weekend.
“If I was immunocompromised or had medical issues or was otherwise at high risk, then of course I would definitely consider (wearing a mask),” he told ABC Radio Perth.
“Such an event means there will be a lot of people around, so the risk will be significant.”
Dr. However, Griffin expected any new COVID wave to become “shorter in duration” and smaller in magnitude due to improved vaccinations.
He said a new booster, designed for the Omicron variant XBB.1.5, had been approved for use in Australia but was not yet available.
“So hopefully we’ll hear more about that soon, and the most important thing is we need people to understand that adoption will then be the biggest determining factor in how much benefit we get from that,” he said.
“So we really need people to come on board and get that booster when it’s available.”
COVID back on the radar
COVID cases have been rising in WA since early September, with a spike in hospital admissions and cases among aged care home residents.