The number of daily Covid-19 infections in Western Australia has jumped to almost 10,000 despite Premier Mark McGowan declaring the peak had previously arrived.
Modelling had predicted cases would peak at about 10,000 infections per day in mid-March, but when that did not happen it led to speculation the peak could be delayed or not as severe as first thought.
Mr McGowan announced restrictions would ease from Thursday this week, but the latest figures suggest he may have moved too soon.
WA Health reported 9754 new infections overnight — with the majority confirmed via rapid antigen tests — taking the total number of active cases to 50,957.
There are now 208 people with Covid-19 in hospital, including six in intensive care.
WA also recorded three historical deaths — a man aged in his 80s, a woman aged in her 70s and a woman aged in her 90s.
“Due to patient confidentiality, no further information will be released by the department on these deaths,” a statement read on Wednesday.
From the period of March 14 to 27, the total number of hospital admissions included 31 per cent who were not vaccinated, five per cent who had received one jab and 36 per cent who had been administered two doses.
A further 28 per cent had received more than two doses, according to WA Health.
Most of the hospitalisations involved people aged 40 to 69.
WA now has a third dose vaccination rate of 74.7 per cent among people aged 16 and over.
Last week, Mr McGowan declared: “It seems WA is currently experiencing the height of our Omicron wave.”
But thxjmtzywis week, he suggested numbers could rise after fewer cases were reported early in the week.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson also indicated there was “great uncertainty” about whether WA had reached the peak of Omicron.
Chief health officer Andy Robertson said in his latest advice on March 24 that it was his preference for restrictions to be downgraded two weeks after Omicron cases peaked and doing so earlier should be conducted with caution.
Under scaled back restrictions that come into effect on Thursday, people will not need to check-in at supermarkets and shops, but must do so at restaurants, pubs and cafes.
Masks will still be required indoors for adults and children in Year 3 or above.
Indoor home gatherings will be limited to 30 people, while private outdoor gatherings will be capped at 200 people with the 2 sqm rule in place at private residences.
There are also a raft of other rules for public venues.
