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Lots of people are saying we aren't doing enough testing, and that apparent progress on slowing growth of new cases is because we are only testing travellers and close contacts. I want to try my best to explain this. 1/
The best advice is to test as many people as is practically possible, but we have limits to the number of tests available. A week ago we were worried about running out, but since then we have procured much more testing capacity nationally and we are continuing to do so. 2/
Nonetheless, we have been operating to date with a limited capacity, so it has been necessary to ration tests:
*To returned travellers with symptoms
*To close contacts of confirmed cases with symptoms
*To health workers and others on the frontline. 3/
*To returned travellers with symptoms
*To close contacts of confirmed cases with symptoms
*To health workers and others on the frontline. 3/
7-10 days ago I was fairly convinced we would be seeing evidence of community spread, but this is yet to materialise (it may yet). 4/
If community spread was happening, we would be starting to see it show up in presentations to hospitals, as some portion of people who caught COVID would present with extreme symptoms and would be tested and confirmed. 5/
Additionally, as Roger Cook revealed today, Pathwest has been doing random sampling of swabs sent in by GPs testing for ordinary flu. So far this sampling program has not showed up a single COVID-19 case. 6/
Amid the testing story, we are also doing other things to stop the virus spreading.
*Confirmed COVID cases must self isolate.
*Returning travellers must self isolate.
*And we have seen dramatic increase in social distancing measures. 7/
*Confirmed COVID cases must self isolate.
*Returning travellers must self isolate.
*And we have seen dramatic increase in social distancing measures. 7/
We have done these things much earlier in the virus's progression than other parts of the world (and Victoria, NSW, and Qld). There is a debate about whether we should be doing more, which I will set aside for the moment. 8/
While we want to test as widely as possible, it's not sensible to give a test to anyone who wants one when tests are limited. That said, Roger Cook has foreshadowed broadening test criteria in coming days as we procure more tests. 9/
It could still be the case that COVID-19 gets to a stage of widespread community transmission in WA. In fact, it is likely. 10/
But there is little evidence to suggest that it has happened yet, and in the meantime we have bought valuable time to continue to prepare the health system, obtain more PPE, and ramp up access to further testing. 11/
It is not a perfect response, but we do not have perfect or unlimited resources.
I am not defending or criticising our management regime in this tread, simply trying my best to describe it and in doing so answer a lot of questions that I am getting. 12/
I am not defending or criticising our management regime in this tread, simply trying my best to describe it and in doing so answer a lot of questions that I am getting. 12/
I would love to get more feedback, especially from subject matter experts to see if there is anything I have missed or misunderstood. 13/13.
