WA testing criteria for COVID-19 has been expanded at all COVID Clinics to include healthcare workers and WA Police officers.
Minister for Health, Roger Cook said the expanded testing regime would help to find new cases, protect vulnerable populations and ensure the movement of the virus was being properly tracked as it developed.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure that testing is available to those who are symptomatic, and preparing our health system to care for those who need it,” Mr Cook said.
“We also want to ensure that our frontline healthcare staff are being looked after, which is why we have put processes in place across the laboratories to ensure that their tests are streamlined.”
The changes follow advice given by the WA Chief Health Officer and are aimed at finding new cases and discovering community transmission of COVID-19.
The new criteria will include testing for aged care and disability workers.
Mr Cook said it was critically important that Western Australians continued to adhere to the rules surrounding social distancing and the nationwide shutdown of non-essential services.
There are now seven COVID Clinics open across the metropolitan area and one regional clinic operating at Bunbury Health Campus.
