COVID-19 (coronavirus)

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) – a highly contagious virus that affects the respiratory system. The virus can cause mild to serious illness, and even death.

• COVID-19 is a notifiable disease under Part 9 of the Public Health Act 2016 (external site). For more information, see the notifiable diseases page for COVID-19.
• Data : See the COVID-19 surveillance reports for de-identified summary information on notifications, hospitalisations and wastewater surveillance.
• Testing : The WA Department of Health no longer requires registration of positive RAT results. A GP/doctor's referral is now required for COVID-19 PCR testing throughout WA.
• Vaccines : See COVID-19 immunisation for the latest advice and updates about COVID-19 vaccines.
• Infection prevention and control: See the Infection Prevention, Policy and Surveillance Unit IPPSU tools and resources page or Infection prevention and control in residential aged care facilities for information and resources. Also see Universal prevention activities (PDF 460KB) and COVID-19 and building ventilation (PDF 221KB).
• Community : For community COVID-19 information and advice, visit the HealthWA pages about COVID-19 (coronavirus) or the COVID-19 vaccine (HealthyWA). 
• Travel : See Advice for Safe Cruising (external site), Smartraveller (external site) and Western Australian Government information about COVID-19 (external site) for further information