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WA miners deemed critical under COVID rule change

THE Western Australian government has announced the state has moved to “very high caseload” settings after a record number of COVID-19 cases yesterday.

Staff reporter
WA miners deemed critical under COVID rule change

The state recorded 3594 cases of COVID-19 yesterday, the highest since the pandemic began.

The peak, expected to be 10,000 cases per day, is expected as soon as next week.

From 12:01am local time today, the isolation and close contact rules for some industries changed to ensure continuity of operations.

The mining sector falls under the definition of a critical worker.

Under the new rules, critical workers who are asymptomatic close contacts can attend work as a last resort, if mutually agreed between employer and employee.

Those workers will have to record a daily negative rapid antigen test; wear a surgical mask to work and outside the home, and travel alone, if possible; and when not at work, self-isolate.

"It is intended to be a measure of last resort for critical industries when they really need it and there are strict protocols for asymptomatic critical workers to attend work," WA health minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said.

"By making these measures available now we are striking the right balance between the risks presented by COVID-19 and maintaining critical services."

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