COVID infections reported in WA have risen for the third day in a row to 6387 as health authorities prepare to give the green light to the fourth dose for all Australians over 30 on Thursday.
The number of Western Australians receiving treatment at the hospital also rose to 240, with 12 of them in intensive care, more than eight the day before.
WA Health announced eight more deaths: a woman and two men in their 90s, two women and two men in their 80s and a man in their 70s.
There are now 31,295 active infections statewide, the highest number in three weeks, as WA appears willing to follow the rest of the nation as it experiences a significant increase in cases.
Across Australia there are now close to 290,000 active cases, up from a low of 205,000 by mid-June, as BA4 and 5 Omicron subvariants cause an increase in infections.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization met on Wednesday and reportedly approved changes that would allow anyone over the age of 30 to receive a second boost, with an official announcement expected soon.
ATAGI currently recommends the fourth dose only for those over 65 years of age.
The new board is expected to urge all those over 50 to receive a fourth time, and those over 30 will also be able to roll up their sleeves again.
Speaking in Sydney on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would “inevitably” follow other countries to offer quarters to a much wider range of people.
“Because we know that over time, people’s immunity decreases as the distance occurs since they have received the last injection,” he said.
“ATAGI will definitely look at the evidence out there … and I encouraged them to get things done as soon as possible.”
The change comes amid concerns that BA4 and 5 are transmitted even faster than previous Omicron variants and are able to re-infect those who have recovered from COVID in just four weeks.
When asked if the McGowan government was contemplating the reintroduction of face masks, Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the WA government was closely monitoring the increase in the case load.
“Obviously, we are concerned that COVID will persist in the community and there are those numbers, especially in the eastern states, that are starting to rise,” Whitby said.
“So we will be vigilant and follow the right advice when necessary.
“I think the government, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health and the Director of Health have demonstrated a solid and solid track record of keeping Western Australians safe.
“So, you know, what is needed to keep Western Australians safe will be the decision in the future if necessary.”
Earlier this week, former Health Minister Roger Cook, the incumbent prime minister while Mark McGowan is in Europe, said leading vaccination rates in WA were weakening the case to regain mandatory mask use.
“I don’t necessarily see the need to have to introduce any kind of mask measure,” Mr Cook said Monday.
“The reason this is so is because the people of Western Australia have done the right thing, they have been vaccinated.
“That puts us ahead of the game and we should trust them.”