WA has recorded 4,390 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the number of active infections in the state to almost 30,000.
The latest figures on Sunday come as Australia reached a grim pandemic milestone of 10,000 deaths from the virus, with most deaths occurring in 2022.
In 2022, more than 7,000 deaths related to the virus were reported across the country.
The tragic death toll has reached 10,008 after New South Wales and Victoria both reported deaths from COVID-19.
As of 6pm on Saturday, the number of West Australians in hospital with the virus had risen to 223, up from 218 on Friday.
Nine people were in intensive care, one less than the day before.
The total number of active infections in the state jumped by nearly 1,000 to 29,942.
At last update, there were no reported deaths from COVID-19 in Washington.
As Australia’s death toll surpasses 10,000, authorities are urging people to be vigilant against the disease.
New South Wales reported an additional two deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, while Victoria reported another 22.
South Australia has recorded six more deaths from COVID.
Ahead of a meeting of health ministers, federal Health Minister Mark Butler said authorities expected a further wave of the virus in the coming months.
He noted that the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants are distributed throughout the country.
“We have seen that overseas there is a greater risk of re-infection, so if you had COVID earlier this year during the first wave in the summer, there is a risk that you are open to re-infection,” Mr Butler said.
“I encourage you to go out and get this booster – it will provide additional protection against the possibility of re-infection with these new sub-variants in the coming months.”
Mr Butler said health ministers would talk about the development of the COVID-19 situation and how the federal government can work with states and territories to meet election commitments.
Queensland reported no new deaths from COVID on Sunday after the state’s chief health officer, John Gerrard, said on Saturday that pressure was mounting to bring back mask mandates.
Minister of State for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said on Sunday that there had been no change to the mask rules.
“I don’t have any recommendations from the chief health officer here in Queensland to do that,” she said.
“But we’re reminding people as we go through this third wave that they can make those decisions (about when to wear masks) on their own.”
On Australia surpassing 10,000 deaths from COVID-19, Ms D’Ath said people needed to remind themselves of the virus’s lingering global impact when people were still dying every day.
“Our healthcare workers would rather not take care of people who are seriously ill with COVID, who are in intensive care and, unfortunately, dying with (the disease),” she said.
“There is something we can do to at least ease the burden on our healthcare workers dealing with these deaths from COVID, and that is to vaccinate and encourage (others) … to get vaccinated.”
LATEST DATA FOR 24 HOURS on COVID-19
NSW: 8,864 cases, two deaths, 1,657 in hospital and 43 in intensive care
Victoria: 8,368 cases, 22 deaths, 476 in hospital and 20 in intensive care
Tasmania: 1,062 cases, no deaths, 53 in hospital and three in intensive care
Qld: 3971 cases, no deaths, 630 in hospital with 18 in intensive care
WA: 4,390 cases, no deaths, 223 in hospital and nine in intensive care
SA: 2,413 cases, six deaths, 226 in hospital and eight in intensive care
https://thewest.com.au/news/coronavirus/covid-in-wa-active-cases-rise-as-australias-death-toll-reaches-10000-c-7387294
