The state government has this afternoon announced a positive COVID-19 case and mandated a three-day lockdown for Perth and the Peel region starting at midnight tonight.
The individual contracted the highly transmissible UK strain while staying at the Mercure Hotel Perth.
Health authorities said the man stayed at St Catherine’s College near the University of Western Australia.
Despite returning a negative result on April 17 prior to his release from quarantine – and departure from Perth on the 21st of April – a subsequent test indicated a positive result for the man at 2am today.
That means the individual was in the Perth community for five days – and may have been infectious during this period.
A female friend with whom the man stayed in Kardinya also tested positive today.
This follows at least two other individuals – a mother and child – testing positive on April 16.
“We believe it has been a recent infection,” a representative said during the press conference.
“Don’t move about unless you absolutely have to.”
Masks will be mandatory from 6:00pm tonight.
Pelican understands mass testing is underway at the colleges around UWA.
Anyone at the university who is feeling unwell is urged to be tested.
More to come.
Words by Millie Muroi