9 March 2022
IOT COVID-19 subcommittee update
UPDATE ON CI COVID SITUATION – NEW COVID CASE – RECENT AIR TRAVELLER
The IOT COVID-19 subcommittee can confirm a new COVID case on Christmas Island. The new case, who tested positive today, arrived on yesterday’s Virgin Australia flight (VA1909).
This case is NOT related to the case announced on Sunday.
The new case tested negative prior to travel - they then took another test this morning which was positive.
All passengers on yesterday’s flight who were seated in rows 20 - 24 of the Perth to Christmas Island leg are deemed close contacts and should quarantine immediately. The health service is contacting these passengers and undertaking further contact tracing.
All other passengers on the flight need to monitor for symptoms, however mild. Anyone experiencing symptoms must stay at home and contact the health service.
There are still no further positive cases relating to the Pool Hall exposure site. From that community case, sixty five people have been deemed close contacts and are undertaking a seven-day quarantine period, supported by testing. A further 33 people are monitoring for symptoms.
The CI Pool Hall (between 9pm Saturday, 5 March and 1am, Sunday 6 March) remains a public exposure site, and anyone who was at the Pool Hall must isolate immediately and make contact with the health service by phone.
If you are in isolation and feeling unwell, please contact the health service who will arrange to have a phone consultation with you. Do not go to the clinic.
With escalating daily cases in WA and now positive cases on CI, a reminder that provision of a negative RAT test is only part of the pre-travel obligations for IOT travellers. It is critical you also monitor for any symptoms and do not travel if you are unwell, even with a negative RAT undertaken.
The subcommittee are releasing daily statistics and information on positive cases. Bulletins on the COVID response and any changes to restrictions will also be issued as required. Please subscribe to the bulletins and follow the Administrator’s official Facebook for these updates. We urge the community to source their information from these official channels.
Level One restrictions apply across the IOT
In response to the positive case on CI, the subcommittee has determined that Level One restrictions will apply across CI and CKI, in alignment with the WA model and public health guidelines. These restrictions will remain under review and be escalated as needed if cases increase.
Under the Level One settings, hospitality venues must comply with their COVID safety plans, with capacity set by the 2 square metre per person rule. COVID safe plans requirements include maintenance of contact registers, mandatory mask wearing indoors and wherever people cannot physically distance, and following hand hygiene protocols. Indoor gatherings at a private residence are limited to a total of 30 people including household members.
IOTHS using telehealth
The health service on CI is using a telehealth model until further notice. If you have an appointment, you will be notified of arrangements for your appointment by the health service. The health service is focused on minimising risk of transmission within IOTHS so we continue to ask people on island to limit unnecessary attendance at the health service for non-urgent general health matters.
If you have any symptoms associated with COVID, no matter how mild, isolate straight away, and contact the health service immediately by phone to arrange for a test.
The IOT COVID-19 subcommittee thanks all community members for their cooperation at this time and will provide further information as the situation develops.
Important contact numbers
Christmas Island
- Christmas island Health Services 9164-8333
- Christmas Island Community Policing Team 9164-8444
- Social Worker Phone 9164 8333 ext 130 or 0447 975 436
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- West Island Clinic 9162-6655
- Home Island Clinic 9162-7609
VHF – Channel 24
- Cocos Community Policing Team 9162-6600
