Three COVID exposure sites in Collie

Collie residents are being urged to follow the latest health advice after three locations in the close-knit community were listed as COVID-19 exposure sites. Anyone who went to the McDonald’s on Throssell Street between 12.00 to 12.05pm on January 26, the Collie Sunset Movie Series at Central Park between 7.30pm and 10pm, or to Forrest French Hot Bread on Forrest Street on January 24 from 12.30 to 12.45 is being asked to monitor for symptoms unless directly advised otherwise by Health Department officials. Collie Shire president Sarah Stanley said it was “not surprising” the virus had made its way into the Collie community, with the number of essential workers needing to travel through the region throughout the pandemic. “We urge all members of our community to stay up to date with the latest advice on what to do to keep yourself and others safe,” Ms Stanley said. “While compliance with mandates and restrictions can be frustrating at times, please be kind to each other, especially to those continuing to provide essential services in our community.” Three more locations down the hill were listed as exposure sites on Tuesday — all at the Eaton Fair Shopping Centre between January 27-28. WA Health has advised that if anyone who visited these locations develops symptoms, they need to get tested and isolate immediately. The addition of the Collie locations to the exposure list on Saturday came after several cases were detected at Albemarle’s Kemerton lithium refinery last week, followed by two cases reported on Saturday at Alcoa’s Kwinana alumina refinery. On Sunday the first cases of COVID were discovered in the WA resources sector, with positive cases detected at BHP’s Yandi iron ore mine in the Pilbara and 29Metals’ Golden Grove operation near Yalgoo. Cases were also reported at 29Metals’ Golden Grove polymetallic operation in the Mid West and Alcoa’s alumina refinery at Kwinana at the weekend. The are the first cases in the WA mining sector sites since the pandemic began in 2020.