WA records 2847 new COVID-19 cases as outbreak hits bus drivers

Western Australia has recorded 2847 new COVID-19 cases overnight as an outbreak within public transport workers causes commuter delays on Tuesday morning.

The state now has 14,458 active cases, however only 48 people are in hospital with the virus, and no one is in intensive care.

Around 30 bus routes were cancelled on Tuesday due to COVID-19 related staff shortages.

“We are managing these impacts to ensure the safety of passengers and staff while continuing to provide vital public transport services,” the PTA said in a statement.

“During this time we ask passengers to be patient, plan ahead and allow additional travel time.”

Of the new cases, 1317 were confirmed by PCR test and the remaining 1530 were self-reported positive rapid antigen tests.

Federal Department of Health COVID-19 statistics showed Western Australia was the slowest state to return results from PCR tests, with the department being notified of 47 per cent of positive cases within 24 hours.

Most other jurisdiction are above 90 per cent.

The report also revealed COVID-19 is spreading fastest in WA, compared to other states, with a reproductive number of 1.64 recorded on March 1.

Despite the more contagious, but less severe, Omicron spreading quickly in the community, Western Australia has the highest collective immunity against the virus.

WA chief health officer Andy Robertson said he expected the state’s first Omicron wave to peak in March or April with the peak in hospitalisation to occur two to three weeks afterwards.

WA Health is no longer providing a breakdown of whether positive cases acquired the virus locally or via travel.

In the first six days since WA’s border reopened, 4900 people have arrived from overseas.

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