COVID-19: Allanson Primary School case recorded in South West as MV Ballard finally docks in Bunbury

The case which forced students, teachers and close contacts into isolation at a primary school near Collie was the South West’s only positive COVID-19 result recorded on Monday. But there is potential for more cases and new exposure sites in the region, because the case had been infectious in the community — including a visit to Allanson Primary School on Thursday. It was one of 62 locally acquired cases reported across the State on Monday, including 10 positive rapid antigen tests. One of the local cases remains unlinked. The Year 2/3 class at the small Allanson school are all isolating, along with their close contacts. It comes as the tanker which had been anchored off the coast of Bunbury while as many as 18 crew members recovered from COVID-19 finally docked. The 23 crew members on board the MV Ballard, which last docked at Manila, were finally allowed to berth on Sunday after nearly two weeks at anchor. Authorities say the vessel was cleaned at Bunbury port and one crew member was allowed to disembark as part of a pre-approved sign-off. The crew member is currently isolating in hotel quarantine before his flight out of Australia. Southern Ports, which manages the Bunbury Port, told the Bunbury Herald last week it was ready to handle the ship when it did finally berth. “We have very robust COVID-19 protocols in place, designed to protect our workforce and our communities,” Southern Ports chief executive Steve Lewis said. “When the ship does berth, the vessel will enter port and unload in accordance with the relevant safety protocols as advised by WA Health.” No new exposure sites have been listed in the South West for 10 days and only two sites — both on South West Highway in Donnybrook — remain on the Healthy WA website. South West residents who have visited an exposure site or are experiencing symptoms are still being urged to get tested, as the region’s first drive-through facilities open. A drive-through clinic in Davenport near Bunbury and in Busselton have opened to expand the region’s capacity and to reduce wait times at other clinics, including at Bunbury Regional Hospital.