Life to get 'very difficult' for unvaccinated: McGowan

Western Australia has recorded three new local cases of COVID-19 overnight, as Premier Mark McGowan warns that life is about to get “very difficult” for those not yet vaccinated.

During a press conference this morning, Mr McGowan confirmed two of the three new cases were household contacts of recent interstate arrivals in home quarantine, while the third is connected to the Delta backpacker cluster that prompted the reintroduction of a suite of restrictions on December 23.

All of the new cases are currently in quarantine.

As the state prepares to reopen on February 5, Mr McGowan has flagged the introduction of a stricter, longer-term policy for those not yet vaccinated.

Currently, proof of vaccination requirements are in place for those attending nightclubs, music festivals and events and hospitality venues with capacity for more than 500 people.

But Mr McGowan confirmed the state government was in the process of finalising a longer-term policy, which would prevent those not yet vaccinated from working in or entering a host of licensed venues, events, restaurants, cafes and gyms.

He said unvaccinated people were “hugely overrepresented” in case and hospitalisation numbers, with far too many resources in the eastern states being allocated to those he believes have not taken basic care of themselves.

He warned that life was about to get “very difficult” for those not yet vaccinated, and urged them to book their appointment.

The state government is expected to launch a new app tomorrow, which will feature a person’s vaccination status.

Further details on the policy will be released in the coming days.

Despite doubts around whether the state would stand by its reopening date of February 5 amid the surging number of Omicron cases in the eastern states, Mr McGowan insisted that date was solid.

Meanwhile, the state's vaccination rate continues to climb, with the first dose vaccination rate now standing at 93.9 per cent for those over the age of 12.

About 86.3 per cent of Western Australians over the age of 12 are now fully vaccinated, and 14.5 per cent of those over the age of 16 have received their third dose.