COVID has returned to the Shire of Harvey with an exposure site being listed in Binningup

A COVID-positive person spent time in the Shire of Harvey last week, with an exposure site in the seaside town of Binningup being listed on the HealthyWA website last Tuesday. A person who was COVID positive visited the Binningup General Store on Coronation Drive on Friday, February 11, between 5.00 and 5.30pm. The exposure site listing comes after a cluster of 17 COVID cases in the same Shire last month which was traced to a Kemerton lithium plant. The news also sounds familiar to residents of Preston Beach in the Shire of Waroona after three exposure sites were listed in the popular destination between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. WA Health recorded 222 new local cases of COVID to 8pm Sunday night, taking the total number of active cases at the time of print to 1044. Premier Mark McGowan announced new public health and social measures on Friday for Perth, Peel, the South West, Wheatbelt, Great Southern and Pilbara regions following the confirmation of a full border opening on Thursday, March 3. “While this will be welcome news for many families, the introduction of quarantine-free travel will naturally mean there will be greater spread of the virus in WA,” Mr McGowan said in a Facebook post. From 6am Monday, indoor mask-wearing requirements took effect statewide, home gatherings became limited to 30 people and private indoor gatherings became limited to 200 people. A 2sqm capacity rule — as well as a 500 person capacity limit at nightclubs — also came into effect and masks became mandatory for all school staff and secondary students. A 75 per cent capacity rule is now in place for major stadiums and entertainment venues.