News
Level 1 restrictions statewide welcomed, as mounting caseload makes border closure redundant
Friday February 25, 2022
With the introduction of Level 1 public health and social measures statewide on 28 February announced by the Government today, AMA (WA) President Dr Mark Duncan-Smith held a media conference this afternoon.
Comments attributed to AMA (WA) President Dr Mark Duncan-Smith:
“The AMA (WA) welcomes the introduction of Level 1 restrictions statewide. We’ve just hit 1,000 daily cases, 12 patients in hospital and no patients in ICU. This has occurred slightly earlier than the AMA (WA) modelling would have predicted, but it is on course for what was expected, and is also consistent with government modelling.
The AMA (WA) in its modelling did predict that we would hit 9,020 cases in April. When I spoke about 50,000-60,000 cases a day, that was unrestricted, ‘let it rip’ cases that we would have hit, and that just indicates how important these restrictions are, and it is appropriate to have those at the moment.
The fact that we’ve got 1,039 new cases, with four related to travel, means that the border closure really is at this stage redundant, and we look forward to 3 March with the opening up of the State.
The large amount of disease that is now in the State, and especially in the rural and remote areas is testimony to the fact that people should not be hesitant about getting vaccinated at this stage. If you’re not vaccinated or you’re due a booster, then you should go out and get it.
I’d also make a call out to all parents of 5–11-year-olds. Only 50 per cent of the children in that age group are vaccinated. My daughter is vaccinated. She was vaccinated on the first day I could get her vaccinated, and I urge you to either go get your children vaccinated, or talk to your GP about your childhood vaccination.
It’s the AMA (WA)’s understanding that the outbreak in Bidyadanga is being very well handled by the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service. Their response has been significant, swift, and very smooth, and the Aboriginal patients in the community are in good care.”
ENDS
Please contact AMA (WA) Media via email media@amawa.com.au for further information on this issue.
