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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 372 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 27 May 2020 by Mr M. Hughes

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — TESTING REGIME

372. Mr M. HUGHES to the Minister for Health:

I refer to the ongoing work by health authorities to contain and stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure that Western Australia is well prepared to respond to any outbreaks. Can the minister outline to the house how the expanded testing of asymptomatic Western Australians will support these efforts; and, further, can the minister advise the house as to who will be part of the expanded testing regime?

Mr R.H. COOK replied:

I thank the member for the question. It is a good question. It is about how Western Australia can continue to grow in confidence about the COVID-19 response. Today I launched DETECT Snapshot, which is the next phase of our DETECT program, our nation-leading testing regime for asymptomatic people. DETECT Snapshot, which will go live tomorrow for two weeks, will provide a testing blitz across cohorts that are of particular interest for COVID-19. This project will help us get a better understanding of potential COVID-19 cases that may be in the community and that have not been detected. More importantly, it will provide the government and the public with greater confidence that we are on top of this virus. People from specific cohorts who are not showing symptoms of COVID-19 will be able to get a test for the virus at one of our COVID clinics, a drive-through facility at Burswood, or from a range of privately-operated pathology providers. There will be around 100 outlets right across the state for all those people working in the industries that we want to focus on. In particular, we will be utilising some of the testing kits that were arranged for us by Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Foundation. Once again, we thank it for its efforts to significantly assist us to boost our testing armoury.

In answer to the member for Kalamunda's question, the eligible groups who we are asking to take part in the testing blitz include healthcare workers, such as WA Health staff; private hospital employees; employees of residential aged-care facilities, general practices and pharmacies; and disability sector employees—really, any worker employed by an organisation that is delivering health services.

Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup: Paramedics?

Mr R.H. COOK: Yes. Western Australia Police Force staff will also be eligible for testing, as will meatworkers employed in an abattoir, meatpacking, or in further processing, such as small goods manufacture. Retail workers, such as employees in supermarkets, department stores and specialty stores; and hospitality workers, such as employees in cafes, restaurants, pubs or hotels are also eligible. These groups have been selected mainly for their frequent interaction with the public during the COVID-19 pandemic or where documented outbreaks have occurred in other jurisdictions. Participation in the testing will be absolutely voluntary; however, the greater the participation, the more valuable the evidence will be. We will continue to work with industry groups, unions and other members of the community to help them come on board with this testing. We want to test as many people as we can in the next fortnight. Through the testing blitz, we will see exactly what is going on with COVID-19, particularly within these cohorts. DETECT Snapshot will further improve our understanding of COVID-19 and provide the public with additional confidence that the chances of being exposed to the virus remains low.

The McGowan government has been a leader in the nation on the management of COVID-19. We remain leaders in relieving restrictions in Western Australia to ensure that Western Australians can find their way to the new normal of living with COVID-19. DETECT Snapshot will provide the community with absolute clarity at this time of exactly where we are up to. I urge all members to do whatever they can to support the program.