It is "not appropriate" to release specific locations of coronavirus cases in regional WA due to the low numbers, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) WA says.
WA Health releases case numbers for entire regions with no specific information about the communities they have been recorded in.
There has been growing pressure from the regional community to release more details about cases, as the virus spreads throughout the state.
AMA WA president Mark Duncan-Smith said because regional case numbers were low, releasing specific locations could be "counterproductive".
"Say there's a single case in Newman and if that gets reported, that could then lead to that person getting ostracised, identified and that interferes with their actual privacy," he said.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the state government would consider releasing the specific locations of COVID-19 cases in regional WA.
She said low case numbers in the regions meant a breakdown had not been a priority.
"We can look at providing that," she said.
"We haven't had much regional spread at all, but as we get further into case studies, we will provide that region by region."
WA Health said it was working on producing a regional breakdown but was not sure when it would be regularly available.
Dr Duncan-Smith said he would support a breakdown of local infection rates when regional cases rose.
He said it would not be long before more localised information was needed.
"In a matter of the next week or two, I think it will be useful information to heighten people's awareness about it, as those numbers start to climb," he said.
Taking wait and see approach
City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long said the state government should release specific breakdowns of COVID-19 cases in the regions as soon as it could.
"I've asked that question and one of the things that they replied was 'well we haven't needed to do it because there haven't been any cases here'," he said.
"The other thing that they're concerned about is that the amount of testing has been quite low and so they don't want to panic people. In the Pilbara, they're just taking a wait and see approach."
Dr Duncan-Smith said because case numbers were relatively low in the regions, it was a good opportunity for people to get vaccinated.
"Talk to your trusted GP about it or Aboriginal Medical Service, it is the best way to protect yourself and your family against Omicron," he said
"If you're due a booster go and get it and if you've got a child five to 11 years old, them get them vaccinated as well."
