COVID-19 testing locations are available on the Healthy WA website.
Visit the WA Government COVID-19 coronavirus page for updates.
CLOSE CONTACT – NEW DEFINITION
Casual contacts will cease in WA – meaning casual contacts will no longer be subject to testing and isolation as a matter of course though people who experience symptoms should get a PCR test immediately. This is in line with the national approach.
A close contact, in a high caseload environment, will be defined as:
- a household member or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period,
- someone who has had close personal interaction with a person with COVID-19 during their infectious period, where they spent 4 hours of cumulative contact with them in a residential setting (including a home, residential care facility, boarding school, maritime vessel or other accommodation facilities) in any 24-hour period where masks have been removed by both people during the period of contact
- someone who is informed by WA Health that they are a close contact.
NEW TESTING AND ISOLATION PROTOCOLS
The use of Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) forms part of the new testing and isolation protocols once they come into effect, with PCR testing to continue in some circumstances. A registration system for positive RAT results will be in place, with more details to be released ahead of these settings taking effect.
Further details on testing and isolation guidelines can be found here.
Click here to download a guide outlining the new testing and isolation protocols.
REGISTERING POSITIVE RAT RESULTS ONLINE
People who have self-administered a RAT at home for COVID-19 and tested positive must register their results online with the Department of Health.
This process will take several minutes and can be completed by the person who has returned the positive result or another person on their behalf – if they need assistance.
The mandatory registration requires information to be logged including:
- Date and time of the test
- Personal details about your situation
- Phone number to be contacted on
People who do not have access to the online registration system must still report their positive test results and can do so by contacting 13 COVID (13 26843).
When a positive result is registered, WA Health will assess how best to manage the situation, including whether health care is needed, and provide advice on what to do next.
You can access the register here.
*If you are purchasing Rapid Antigen Tests please ensure that the test equipment has been approved by the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA)
The TGA’s performance requirements for COVID-19 rapid antigen self-tests are internationally aligned with technical specifications published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Commission.
Click here to access the table of TGA approved RAT tests. Click here to download a COVID -19 Rapid Antigen Point of Care Testing Guidance for implementation and checklist for businesses.
CRITICAL WORKER FURLOUGH REGISTRATION
To apply the critical worker furloughing settings in your workplace to ensure critical supply chains and services continue in a high COVID-19 caseload environment, you must register your critical roles with the WA Government. An online registration system is now available on the State Governments Website.
Contact criticalworker.register@dpc.wa.gov.au if you need help completing this form.
PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATION
From Monday, January 31, proof of vaccination requirements will expand to apply to venues and events state-wide.
There are a few ways you can show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination, both in a digital and paper-based form.
The WA Government introduced a mandatory vaccination policy for a majority of occupations and workforces in WA. This will affect growers as they fall into different brackets of the mandatory vaccination policy
