A school has been shut down in Perth after a teacher tested positive for Covid-19, while two other new infections recorded overnight remain a mystery.
Western Australia recorded 29 new cases overnight – 17 local infections, 11 linked to interstate travel and one related to overseas travel.
Among the local cases, 15 are linked to current outbreaks, while two remain a mystery.
All cases are now in quarantine but one was infectious in the community.
Winterfold Primary School in Beaconsfield has been shut down after a teacher tested positive.
A sign at the school said WA Health had directed the education facility to temporarily close while cleaning and contact tracing was undertaken.
“The school will remain closed until further information is provided by the Department of Education,” principal Steve Berry wrote.
Education Minister Sue Ellery revealed on Wednesday that the teacher attended a whole school staff professional development day on January 28, then the room 11 classroom on January 31.
“There are around about 55 staff who attended that professional development day and 27 students in that classroom on Monday – and they are quarantined for 14 days,” she told reporters.
Ms Ellery commended everyone at the school for their professionalism in dealing with the situation, adding that the school would rexjmtzywopen on Thursday for people not required to quarantine.
“I spoke with the principal late yesterday afternoon, and I know that he leads a strong and engaged school community who will support each other,” she said.
“It has been an unsettling period since yesterday afternoon for that school community.
“I want to reassure them that all of the arrangements and protocols that needed to be in place and to be followed were and that arrangements are in place to return to safe learning … from tomorrow for those not quarantined.”
There will be replacement staff for the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, Premier Mark McGowan said WA’s double-dose vaccination rate for people aged 12 and over was now at 91.9 per cent.
The third-dose vaccination rate for people aged 16 and over is at 37.6 per cent, with the rate increasing by about 1 per cent per day this year.
Mr McGowan said the state government would launch a two-week third-dose vaccination blitz on February 7, with about 40,000 additional appointments at state-run clinics.
