People not showing any symptoms of COVID-19 from vulnerable groups in the community now have the opportunity to be tested for the virus under the McGowan Government's DETECT Snapshot.
Healthcare workers, WA Police staff, meat workers, supermarket and retail staff, and hospitality workers who are asymptomatic can undergo a swab test for COVID-19 from Thursday May 28 to Wednesday June 10, 2020.
WA continues to be in the enviable position of having no sustained community transmission and this series of testing will provide a better understanding of any COVID-19 that may be in the community.
Participation is voluntary and open to adults who work in the identified groups, selected mainly for their frequent interaction with the public during COVID-19 or where documented outbreaks have occurred in other jurisdictions.
Testing will be available state-wide from COVID-19 testing clinics, a drive-through facility in Burswood, and a range of publicly and privately operated pathology providers.
Those tested will be able to resume normal activities immediately and will be informed of a negative result via SMS.
Anyone who tests positive will be followed up in line with existing public health procedures, including isolation and identification of any contacts for follow up and quarantine.
Testing arrangements for everyone else remains the same.
Anyone with fever, history of fever, or respiratory symptoms including shortness of breath, cough and/or sore throat should be tested at a designated COVID-19 clinic.
Health Minister Roger Cook said the government's DETECT program was leading the nation in testing of asymptomatic people.
"DETECT Snapshot will see a testing blitz across different cohorts to help us get a better understanding of any COVID-19 that may be in the community and has not been detected," he said.
"Now is not the time to rest on our laurels and the snapshot will further improve our understanding of COVID-19 and provide the public with additional confidence that the chances of being exposed to the virus remains low.
"COVID-19 testing of symptomatic testing will continue to be prioritised ahead of the DETECT Snapshot samples so as not to compromise identification of positive cases and the response."
