Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook provide an update on WA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Latest Perth coronavirus update from Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook.
Foreign Artania passenger has died
A foreign passenger from the Artania cruise ship who was infected with coronavirus has died in a Western Australian hospital, taking Australia’s COVID-19 death toll to 28.
Border Closure
Mr McGowan again referenced the importance of the border shutdown, stating it would be irresponsible if he didn’t take advantage of Perth’s isolation to ensure the safety of our state.
Read more: WA Borders To Close
Commercial Tenants Regulations
While Mr McGowan acknowledged there are on-going conversations about this situation, he stated an announcement will be made next week. However, he did premise that commercial rent will need to reflect the current commercial market.
“Many tenants and many businesses have had their incomes collapse. Commercial rents should reflect that.”
“Rents will need to come down, it’s as simple as that.”
Latest number of confirmed cases in Western Australia
22 cases were confirmed overnight, taking the states total now to 422.
The location of the confirmed cases is 10 from the Perth metro area and 3 from regional WA.
Mr Cook wanted to highlight that of the 22 new cases, 9 were from the Artania cruise ship, meaning only 13 confirmed cases locally for WA.
The ages of the confirmed cases are from 37 and 81.
Mr Cook also stated how well the WA h
To summarise the current state of play in regards to the status of all cases, Mr Cook stated there are currently 92 recovered case within WA, leaving 327 cases currently active.
Expanded community testing
As anticipated there was a significant increase in numbers attending coronavirus clinics to be tested.
Yesterday 912 individuals attended, with 569 individuals swabbed. To put in perspective 298 were swabbed the on Wednesday – nearly doubly WA’s testing output.
You can run and have a kebab
On the lighter side of things, McGowan was able to have a bit of a laugh about a story that came out of NSW.
Mark McGowan says it’s “not against the law to go for a run and then have a kebab”.
Watch: Premier Mark McGowan and Health Minister Roger Cook provide an update on WA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also in a statement released earlier today – despite such hardline border shutdown, Mark McGowan has ensured the kids of WA that the Easter Bunny will be here for Easter.
More Perth coronavirus coverage on SoPerth.com.au:
