South West COVID-19 case numbers soar to record high after long weekend

The South West has recorded its highest number of new cases of COVID-19 in one day, with WA Health reporting 144 new infections overnight.

The figure smashes the record from the previous day, where 95 new cases had been reported.

WA recorded 4535 cases overnight, with 80 people now being treated for COVID-19 in hospital, 3 of these in intensive care units.

The new cases come as the South West’s exposure-sites tally climbed to more than 70 locations — many of these high-traffic venues for locals and visitors alike — bringing the region’s total number of active cases to 418.

Visitors to the region over the long weekend may have helped contribute to the higher case numbers, many of the exposure sites for the Labor Day weekend being popular tourist destinations.

Among the new long-weekend exposure sites listed by WA Health are Driftwood Estate Winery in WiIyabrup, Dunsborough Lakes Golf Club, as well as the The Wagon Cafe, Federal Hotel and the Banksia Motel in Collie.

Shelter Brewing Co in Busselton is the only exposure site for Monday March 7.

ECU South West Campus and Bunbury Regional Community College were listed as exposure sites for Wednesday March 2 from 9.30am-12.30pm and Thursday 3 from 8am to 12pm respectively. Margaret River’s Blackwood Dance Company was also an exposure site from 5.15pm-6.30pm on Wednesday March 2.

McDonald’s Treendale was listed to include two exposures, the first on Tuesday March 1 from 3.30pm-7.30pm, the second on Wednesday March 2 from 3.20pm-3.40pm.

The region’s exposure sites for Thursday March 4 include Artezen Cafe in Dunsborough, the Margaret River Bakery and Fishbone Winery.

Friday’s exposure sites include the Augusta Moon Chinese Restaurant and Palmer Winery in Dunsborough.

Swings & Roundabouts winery was an exposure site on Saturday and Sunday.

Other Saturday exposure sites were Rosily Vineyard, Lenton Brae Winery, the Margaret River Dairy Company, the Collie Fields Brasserie Cafe, McDonald’s Dalyellup, Bushtucker Tours Margaret River, the Har Bar and Clancy’s Fish Pub in Dunsborough, along with the Pullman Resort near Bunker Bay,

The resort was an exposure site for Sunday, and was updated to have been an exposure site the previous weekend.

Dunsborough’s Har Bar was again an exposure site on Sunday, along with the Bungalow Neighbourhood Social Bar, Caves House Hotel in Yallingup and the Margaret River Chocolate Company.

A full list of exposure sites and times can be found online here.