WA COVID cases rise by 7,151, one dead

Western Australia recorded 7,151 new COVID cases overnight and one COVID-related death, as the state's peak building body called on the state government to end the vaccine mandate.

In a press conference this morning, Premier Mark McGowan confirmed a woman in her 80s had passed away overnight and that the state's total number of active cases was now sitting at 31, 211.

There are 122 people with COVID-19 in hospital and another four in ICU.

Mr McGowan said he was "very keen" for the restrictions to be downgraded to Level 1, but was conscious that WA had not hit the peak of the pandemic yet.

"We'll see how we track over the coming days and weeks before we make that decision," he said.

State government health modelling suggests the peak will bring daily caseloads of more than 10,000.

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson previously said the peak of hospitalisations would occur about a week after the peak of cases, if the modelling proves correct.

Of the 7,151 cases, 3,354 were confirmed via PCR test and the remaining 3,797 were self-reported positive rapid antigen tests.

Master Builders demands end to mandate

The state's peak building body has called on the state government to remove the vaccination mandate for the construction industry and allow more skilled overseas workers to enter the state in a bid to address the skills shortage.

In a statement released this morning, Master Builders Association of WA executive director John Gelavis said the construction industry was grappling with serious skill shortages.

Master Builders Association of WA executive director John Gelavis.

He insisted it was time to welcome back the construction sector's full workforce to tackle the pipeline of projects, warning any delay may have dire consequences.

“If changes are not made immediately, then it is very likely hundreds of builders in WA are at serious risk of irreversible losses,” he said.

“If this crisis does occur, it will leave tens of thousands of employees, suppliers and subcontractors with significant losses, and builders seeing their businesses, including many that are family owned and operated no longer in existence.

“MBA WA is calling on the state government to allow those able to work in the industry to return to work, on residential and commercial projects with minimal restrictions, as the whole intent of 

vaccination was to ensure critical sectors could remain operational throughout high case load and very high case load environments of COVID-19.

“Whilst we acknowledge the Premier’s commitment to addressing the critical worker definition once WA reaches lower caseloads, we feel it is critical to tackle the skills shortage and the vaccine mandate.

“Homes under construction could remain incomplete if builders are unable to complete the contracted works, commercial projects stalled or worse will put the entire building industry at serious risk of collapse, so action is needed now.”

In response, Mr McGowan reiterated the state government's vaccine mandate had assisted in keeping Western Australians safe and in work and had the support of the construction union.