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AAP
AAP
Health
Tim Dornin

NSW truckie sparks COVID-19 scare in WA

WA Health Minister Roger Cook says the risk posed by a COVID-positive NSW truck driver is low. (AAP)

A NSW truck driver who visited Western Australia last week has tested positive for COVID-19, prompting public warnings over exposure sites.

But authorities say at this stage the case won't impact on the AFL grand final in Perth on Saturday.

A second driver who travelled in the same truck has tested negative for the virus.

Health Minister Roger Cook said he was confident the risk to the wider community was low, given the pair were in WA for less than 48 hours, from September 16 to 17.

He said they slept in their truck and had indicated they wore masks any time they left the rig.

The infected man returned a negative test on September 13, before leaving for WA, but tested positive on his return to NSW.

He had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Mr Cook expected only a small number of potential contacts, most likely among people who visited the same refuelling sites, but said checks were still underway.

Exposure sites had been identified at places where the truck stopped in Coolgardie, Southern Cross, Northam and Kewdale, on the inward journey and at Chidlow, Southern Cross and Balladonia on the return route.

Anyone who visited an exposure site was advised to get tested and isolate until they received a negative result.

It was unclear, at this stage, where the truckies stopped while travelling through South Australia, but SA Health was expected to confirm some exposure sites.

Mr Cook said the discovery of the man's infection would not prompt any immediate changes to arrangements for the AFL grand final where a capacity crowd was expected at Optus Stadium.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is now available across selected West Australian pharmacies. (AAP)

But he said that could change if there were more infections.

"It really depends on the positive cases and the background to those cases," he said.

"If there's a mystery component, that gives us greater cause for concern."

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said based on public health advice no changes were expected with WA's border rules or the conduct of the AFL Grand Final.

"At this point in time, there is no change being contemplated for the broader community," he said.

"Everything is going ahead as planned, even though we are still examining these particular truck drivers and their movements."

However, Mr Dawson urged anyone attending the AFL match to turn up early and expect some delays in getting into the ground.

"Obviously it's a full house and what we don't want is people in a crowd crush going in at the last minute," he said.

Also on Wednesday, the state government confirmed coronavirus vaccines would be mandatory for staff of WA's ports who access or work with vessels exposed to the virus.

The government has set a deadline of October 15 for all workers to have had at least one COVID-19 jab.

The direction applies to all commercial ports in WA and includes anyone who carries out a service in connection with an exposed vessel or who interacts with the crew.

The rules do not prevent anyone unvaccinated working on vessels not exposed to COVID-19, while exemptions will also apply to police and emergency workers.

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