Published on Tuesday, 17 March 2020 at 3:26:30 PM
What is Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Coronavirus is an infectious disease caused by a new virus that has not been previously identified in humans.
The virus causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever and in more severe cases, pneumonia. You can protect yourself by washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your face.
The first case reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) was on 31 December 2019. It has since spread across the world, with WHO declaring the disease a pandemic on 11 March 2020.
How is WA responding?
Western Australia is working closely with the Commonwealth, State and Territory jurisdictional governments to respond to the outbreak of a novel Coronavirus that has recently been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation.
The pandemic is managed in WA under the State Emergency Management Act 2005 (EM Act), and WA Local Government Association (WALGA) has been participating in State Emergency Coordination Group meetings as the Association is legislated under the EM Act to represent the sector.
Click here to access the Western Australian Government Pandemic Plan
Which sources of information should I trust?
The WA Department of Health and Premier and Cabinet has declared the HealthyWA website and State Government Coronavirus page as the single sources of truth as the situation with this pandemic is changing daily. It is important to not follow information from unofficial sources.
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