Bunbury COVID clinic opening in matter of days

It is only a matter of days before regional WA’s first COVID clinic opens in Bunbury.

Health Minister Roger Cook on Friday confirmed it would open for coronavirus testing this week, but as of yesterday afternoon a date was not yet finalised.

Meanwhile, doubts loom over the South West Football League, Groovin’ the Moo and other major calendar entries as events are cancelled across the region in a bid to stop the spread. Since the outbreak first began, South West residents concerned they were infected have had to be tested in their cars outside doctors surgeries and in the carpark of Bunbury Hospital.

Local medical centres are also ramping up protective measures as the number of diagnoses rises, with 28 confirmed cases in WA as of yesterday afternoon.

Outside every Brecken Health Care centre in WA, patients are being met by nurses in full protective gear, pictured, to ensure no one with symptoms or who has travelled overseas enters the practice.

Managing director Brenda Murrison said it was only just beginning and anticipated this would continue for six months.

It’s like watching a slow-moving train wreck. Containment needs to be done and it needs to be done now.

“The economic impact on Australia will be far greater if we don’t contain this now.”

On Sunday the State Government declared a Public Health Emergency and a State of Emergency for Western Australia and a number of significant preventative measures were announced.

Non-essential gatherings of 500 people have been banned, international cruise ships can no longer dock in the country for at least the next 30 days and anyone arriving in Australia from overseas must self-isolate for 14 days. Fines of up to $50,000 can be imposed for those who do not comply.

Household fees including electricity, water and public transport fares have also been frozen as part of a $607 million State Government stimulus package to help struggling families and businesses.

Premier Mark McGowan urged West Australians to support local businesses as the State entered “unchartered territory” and the economy felt the impact of COVID-19.