Covid scare for state as man tests positive

Western Australian health authorities will identify several exposure sites after a man who tested positive to Covid-19 spent several hours in the community.

Chief Health Officer Dr Andrew Robertson does not believe he is infectious and is simply shedding the virus. An alert to the public is simply out of an abundance of caution, he told reporters.

The man is a previously confirmed positive case of COVID-19, first testing positive on May 23.

The man, a maritime worker, had spent 14 days in hotel quarantine before being released on Friday about lunch time before later testing positive. He was returned to quarantine on Saturday morning.

During his time outside he visited a pharmacy, an Optus telephone store on Murray Street and had a meal at the Ibis Hotel in Perth's CBD.

WA Health has described the man as a "chronic shedder".

Dr Robertson said those who have been in contact with the man will not need to go into quarantine however must get tested and monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop they are instructed to isolate.

The man wore a face mask while he was out in the community and has remained asymptomatic.

He originally tested positive two days after arriving from Colombia via the United States.

He is the same man - identified by WA Health as Case 1017 - who infected a guest in an adjoining room at the Pan Pacific last month.

The man staying next door had been in the hotel since May 16 and returned two negative tests before testing positive on day 13.

WA Health is yet to determine how the virus spread between the two rooms.

Potential exposure sites

• Optus Murray St, 237 Murray St, Perth, Friday 4 June, 4.30pm to 5.15pm

• Chemist Discount Centre, Perth, Wesley Quarter, 93 William St, Perth Friday 4 June, 5.00pm to 5.30pm

• Rubix Bar and Café, Ibis Hotel Restaurant, 334 Murray St, Perth Friday 4 June, 6.00pm to 8.00pm.

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