Coronavirus crisis: Guard behind WA lockdown remains in quarantine because he’s still testing COVID-positive

The security guard who sparked the lockdown of two million West Australians is being kept in hotel quarantine longer than the standard 14 days after his infection because he is still testing positive for COVID-19.

While all of Perth marked two weeks of no local cases by ditching their masks and returning to pre-lockdown restrictions, health authorities won’t release the guard from quarantine until they are sure he is no longer infectious.

Health Minister Roger Cook said the guard — who is known as case 903 — had been tested in the last couple of days and was continuing to return a positive result, so would stay in quarantine “a little while longer” as an added protection.

“He’s still (COVID-19) positive but probably not infectious, but we will keep him inside hotel quarantine just to make sure,” Mr Cook said.

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New detail also emerged about how the guard — an international student aged in his 20s — likely contracted the virus from an infectious guest at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel.

The Maylands resident was sat about 3m from the room of the guest, whose door was opened several times on the day authorities believe the virus was transmitted.

“The guest was also sitting in a corner room and I understand the air pressures are greater in those corner rooms in terms of the air-conditioning arrangements,” Mr Cook said.

“So we believe we've got a fairly good handle on the circumstances that led to case 903 becoming positive, but we will continue to do (air flow) analysis not only at the Four Points but our other hotels as well just to make sure, given the new infectious and ease of transmission of the UK and South African strains of the disease.”

The interim findings of the review of the hotel quarantine system have been given to Government and will be released publicly later this week.

WA’s 72-hour hard border with Victoria ends at midnight on Monday, but could be extended given two more local cases were detected in Melbourne overnight.

Quarantine-free travel with NSW will resume on Tuesday after the State reached 28 days with no community cases.

More than 102,000 West Australians have tested negative since the guard’s infection was detected on January 30, giving the State Government “confidence” there’s no evidence of community transmission.

People can now drive in and out of Perth without needing police approval, the casino and nightclubs have reopened and hospitality venues have reverted to the 2sqm rule.

What we'd like to see is as many people out there supporting local businesses as possible.

Mark McGowan pleaded for people to get back out and support local businesses who lost income during the five-day lockdown and subsequent eight days of mandatory masks and gathering limits.

“What we'd like to see is as many people out there supporting local businesses as possible. Support your local retailers, coffee shops, or local bars, pubs and restaurants - please get out there and support them,” the Premier said.

“As much as possible. I went out for dinner myself last night to a local restaurant. So make sure that we support our local businesses that have had a bit of a tough time, I've lost time. So

“The more we can unleash that pent up spending in local businesses, the better and I just encourage everyone to take advantage of that opportunity.”