The state government has rebuffed claims the premier "is ignoring Mandurah" by not establishing a COVID fever clinic at the Peel Health Campus.
Three COVID clinics opened at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital on Tuesday.
The clinics, which will operate seven days a week from 8am-8pm, will provide support and testing for people who have flu-like symptoms and have recently travelled overseas or been in contact with a person believed to be infected.
Shadow Health Minister and Dawesville MP Zak Kirkup expressed his disappointment with Mark McGowan at the "lack of a comprehensive plan" if the virus takes hold.
Mr Kirkup said Mandurah was particularly at risk and should have been among the recipients of one of the COVID fever clinics, but was instead "being ignored again".
"I think Peel Health Campus definitely needs one, particularly given the profile of the residents in our city," he said.
"We know that coronavirus has a significant impact, particularly on the more elderly population.
"We have a population in Mandurah that, of a per capita basis, is older than the population of the rest of the state so I want to see a dedicated focus here."
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Mr Kirkup said he was concerned the local hospital was not equipped to handle an "inevitable coronavirus outbreak".
"The reality is Peel Health Campus is already one of the most under resourced and stretched hospitals we have in the state," he said.
"I don't know how well prepared it is to deal with something like coronavirus if we add that to the usual hospital demand we have.
"I'm very worried about what's going to happen if an outbreak does occur and how we're going to protect people in Mandurah. I hope that one doesn't but ... we need extra attention and we need it now - we can't wait."
Mr McGowan said other locations across the metropolitan area, and in regional WA, would be considered for fever clinics if there was a future need to meet any increased demand.
"The thing about them rolling out more broadly is as we need to, we will do that, but obviously we've got to get started somewhere and we're starting in the heaviest population densities," he said.
Mr McGowan added that coronavirus was not an issue that should be "politicised".
"Obviously I think if there was a requirement for one further south it would make sense to put one down here [in Mandurah], but I don't think this issue should be politicised," he said.
"I think the issue around coronavirus needs to be handled maturely and in a considered way.
"Trying to politicise it, which is what Mr Kirkup constantly does, adds to fear in the community."
Trying to politicise it, which is what Mr Kirkup constantly does, adds to fear in the community.
- Premier Mark McGowan
There have been six confirmed cases of coronavirus so far in WA, with more than 1000 negative test results.
Health Minister Roger Cook said only patients who met certain criteria should attend the fever clinics.
"These COVID clinics will provide important testing hubs for people who meet the criteria to be tested," he said.
"For most people, the symptoms of the disease will be mild and will be able to be managed in self-isolation at home but we need to make sure we have measures in place to rapidly diagnose, advise and care for people who are higher risk of more severe illness.
"This measure is to make sure we are offering the best available protection to the Western Australian community, to support those who are at risk of illness, and to limit the impacts of coronavirus in our community."
For advice or information about coronavirus, call the COVID-19 Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 or visit the website www.healthywa.wa.gov.au.
