'Not out of the woods yet': Hotel worker tests positive as WA mulls compulsory school return
A hotel worker who was in contact with a quarantined international traveller is the latest West Australian to test positive for COVID-19.
The 47-year-old is self-isolating and WA health workers are investigating who the man came into contact with after he contracted the virus.
Premier Mark McGowan says a hotel worker at the Pan Pacific has tested positive for coronavirus.Credit:Richard Wainwright
Premier Mark McGowan said the state was not yet "out of the woods".
"There is currently contact tracing underway but what it shows is that it's extremely contagious and you never know when someone will acquire the illness," he said.
"We're doing our best to trace whoever he has been in contact with.
"That's why you can't be too careful about this thing."
There were still four people in hospital in WA, with one in ICU. The total number of people in the state who have contracted the virus is now 553.
The Premier said the Department of Education was now consulting with teachers and parent groups on a compulsory return to the classroom for WA's school students next week.
Mr McGowan said Monday had the highest attendance at public schools since school returned, with 82 per cent of students in class, which is close to the normal attendance rates.
"I think the evidence is there over the course of the last three weeks," he said.
"Parents have re-embraced education, that children in large numbers have gone back to school and it's worked well.
"We'll analyse the consultation over the coming day or two and I expect later this week we'll make an announcement as to what will occur at the start of next week."
Mr McGowan also announced Rottnest would remain ready as a quarantine zone even though 200 people returning from South Africa a fortnight ago would end their isolation on Wednesday.
"Rottnest will remain prepared to quarantine overseas arrivals," he said.
"You never know when you need a facility of that scale and isolation to manage this issue."
He warned Perth holidaymakers that a return to the island for leisure was "some time away".