Cases surge with 645 new infections

The number of COVID cases in Western Australia has surged by 645 overnight, including 643 community infections, smashing previous daily case records.

Today’s figures represent a significant increase on the numbers recorded in previous days and is well over double the 264 cases reported yesterday.

The number of people in hospital has also increased to five overnight, with three more COVID patients admitted.

The update comes after the state government tabled its COVID modelling in parliament, following repeated requests for its release by the opposition.

According to the report, compiled based on data from chief health officer Andy Robertson, more than 463,000 Western Australians are expected to contract COVID over a period of six months.

Over this period, the state’s health department anticipates there will be as many as 5,685 hospitalisations, with 715 ICU admissions and 129 deaths.

Ahead of the reopening of the state's borders next week, it's predicted the state will have reached a third dose vaccination rate of 71 per cent for those over the age of 16 and 90 per cent rate for those in the cohort aged 70 and over.

According to Dr Robertson, the immunity of Western Australians is projected to be at its highest in March 2022, coinciding with the expected uptrend in the epidemic curve.

That assessment was based on WA’s high vaccination rates, increasing booster uptake and the expected waning in vaccine efficacy.

At that peak, which is expected to be reached in late March, 443 COVID positive patients are expected to be hospitalised, with 56 in ICU and three deaths per day.

Opposition demands guidance for GPs

The opposition has called on the state government to provide general practitioners with directions for the management of COVID in the community ahead of the borders reopening on March 3.

In a statement released this morning, health spokesperson Libby Mettam accused the state government of keeping healthcare workers in the dark, with the risk matrix and GP guidelines still unavailable.

With yesterday’s modelling highlighting the likelihood of mild disease within the community, Ms Mettam said it was essential GPs received guidance to ensure they were an effective alternative to hospital.

“These are important directions outlining the requirements GPs and healthcare professionals in general practices need to undertake, such as the PPE that staff wear,” she said.

“The directions are also required to answer questions such as whether a GP wearing a mask and in contact with a COVID-positive patient becomes a close contact.

“This is about releasing the vital directions that general practices require so they can keep operating and effectively manage the COVID risk, it is basic information which should have been learnt from other states and jurisdictions.

“Guidance and information for GPs on accessing and managing these medications is vital GP’s need access and a direct line to enable their use.

“There is an outstanding opportunity for the McGowan government to provide a hotline for GPs to assist with their COVID response, and so far, this has fallen on deaf ears.”