There were 2289 new cases overnight, of which only 10 were travel-related.Just over 1500 were confirmed by a PCR test and 785 were self-reported rapid antigen tests.It brings the state’s total number of active cases to 10,866.The number of people in hospital has also increased to 28 — up from 21 on Friday — but none are in intensive care.Health Minister Amber Sanderson thanked people for getting tested and urged everyone to keep checking exposure sites.“Vaccination is our best protection against Omicron,” she told reporters on Saturday.“This variant is dangerous and is seeing people become more and more hospitalised.”It comes after chief health officer Andy Robertson released revised visitor guidelines for public hospitals on Friday evening that will come into effect at 10am on Sunday.There will be two categories of visitors — essential visitors and others. Essential visitors include a birthing partner and nominated parent, a guardian or carer of a child or person with a disability, and a support person for someone who is at the end of their life.“Essential businesses can remain with the patient outside normal visiting hours,” Ms Sanderson said.The other category applies to all patients and allows them to have one visitor during each of the designated visiting hours. “To be clear, this means a patient can have up to two visitors per day, but they must come at different times,” Ms Sanderson said.Hospital visiting hours are standardised to 10am to 12pm and 5pm to 7pm every day, meaning a patient can have one visitor during each of the two-hour windows. All visitors must show proof of vaccinations, with case-by-case exemptions allowed.Visitors are also expected to undertake screening and risk assessment, and must wear a surgical mask.“I know this is difficult but it is critical that we do everything we can to protect this especially vulnerable cohort,” Ms Sanderson said.“We are now in the most challenging period but it will not last forever. “We have said before we hope to be able to roll back level two public health and social measures in a matter of weeks.“I understand that this may be called comfort you have for those who have loved ones in hospital now, but please know these measures are in place to protect your loved ones. “While we have a very high caseload in the community, it is too easy for a visitor — despite their best efforts — to bring Covid into a hospital.”WA’s hard border came down on Thursday, with thousands of people already flocking to the state to be reunited with loved ones.
Powered by WPeMatico
