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Third confirmed coronavirus case in WA

Staff WriterEastern Reporter

A THIRD case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Western Australia.

The woman, aged in her 30s, had been to Iceland and London, and then returned to Perth via Dubai.

Health Minister Roger Cook said the patient had self-isolated and was stable at home.

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“Western Australia now has its third positive result for coronavirus,” Mr Cook told reporters.

“A female patient in her 30s was travelling back from the UK via Dubai and has returned a positive result.

“Obviously we are all doing our best to look after her, look after her family and make sure that we can take all the necessary steps to understand where she’s been and how we’re going to care for her into the future.”

State Health Minister Roger Cook said exactly where she had been and who she had close contact with was being ascertained.

WA Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson said the woman self-isolated at home as soon as she became unwell the day after she landed.

The risk to those who travelled on the same plane as the woman was low as she was asymptomatic at the time, Dr Robertson said.

She was in a stable condition, he added.

WA’s two other cases were also contracted outside the state.

James Kwan, 78, died in a Perth hospital on Sunday after contracting the virus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan.

It was the first coronavirus death in Australia. His wife later also tested positive to COVID-19.

The quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship sits docked at Daikoku Pier. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images
Camera IconThe quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship sits docked at Daikoku Pier. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

Meanwhile, holy water will be removed from Catholic churches in Perth and drinking from the chalice will be banned under temporary precautions aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus.

The communion wafer will also be administered in the hand, rather than on the tongue, and the sign of peace handshakes will be omitted.

“All priests and extraordinary ministers of holy communion are to wash their hands in soap and water, or are to use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser both immediately before and immediately after the distribution of holy communion,” Bishop Donald Sproxton said in a statement.

“Parishioners who feel unwell should not attend mass and are excused from their normal obligation.”

The directives, which are in response to the latest public health advice from the state and federal governments, will remain in place until Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe issues a revision.

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