Western Australia has reported a new record in COVID-19 case numbers with another 10,394 infections.
The state now has 58,640 active cases, with 279 people in hospital — down from 281 — and six in intensive care.
No new deaths have been reported.
The number of new infections is just over 200 more than the previous record of 10,182 reported last Thursday.
The majority of the cases, 7,306, were recorded via rapid antigen tests, with the remaining infections confirmed via PCR tests.
The spike in case numbers came as seven West Coast Eagles players were fined $5000 each for breaching the club's COVID-19 rules by going to a Perth nightclub.
Surge continues after mask mandate lifted
WA dropped the requirement for people to wear masks at almost all indoor venues on April 29.
Since then, hospitalisations have steadily risen and new case numbers have twice reached new peaks in excess of 10,000 cases.
ABC medical expert and physician Norman Swan said the mask mandate should have been maintained in WA and other states for longer.
"The mask mandate is a cheap and effective way of slowing and controlling the viral spread," Dr Swan told ABC Radio Perth.
"It's a complicated issue and a difficult one. I do think the mask mandate should have been maintained in all states for some time to come.
"You do really want to slow this down and not have quite as much virus circulating in the community, because people are vulnerable and do get infected."
Delays strike website for positive RATs
Not long after the latest figures were released, the Department of Health confirmed it was looking into a problem with its website for people to register positive COVID-19 rapid antigen tests.
A message on the webpage told people they were "currently in the COVID RAT Registration / Home Monitoring virtual waiting room" and that it was experiencing a high demand for registrations, saying it may result in higher-than-expected waiting times.
The department said high demand had created issues accessing the site's online registration form.
"We are asking people to either wait in the queue online, which should only take a few minutes, or to try the website later today," the department said in a statement.
"We thank everyone for their understanding."
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson later said the problem had been resolved and results were being uploaded again.
Authorities 'comfortable' with case surge
Ms Sanderson said Chief Health Officer Andy Roberts was "relatively comfortable" with the increase in new COVID cases.
"I think what it's showing us is high levels of testing," Ms Sanderson said.
"Our ICU numbers have remained remarkably flat throughout this whole experience. And that's the pressure point. Those are the numbers we are watching."
Her comments came as she made a pre-budget mental health announcement, promising $47 million to support the recommendations of a ministerial taskforce on children's mental health.
It was created in response to the death of 13-year-old Kate Savage in 2020, who died from critical injuries that she inflicted just moments after leaving an appointment with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
A review of her treatment and care by WA's chief psychiatrist found she was let down by an under-funded and under-resourced mental health system.
Ms Sanderson said there would be $18.5 million to employ 11.6 full time equivalent staff in the regions at CAHMS.
There would be $12.9 million for more peer workers to help young people and $10 million for a virtual support service to support families on the waiting list for CAHMS services.
More free RATs for regional WA
As WA's COVID figure reached the new peak, the state government announced an expansion of its free rapid antigen test (RAT) program.
More than 70 new locations are open across regional WA for close contacts with no symptoms to collect tests.
People must verbally confirm they are a close contact to receive 10 RATs, and can also collect RATs for other close contacts in their household, up to a maximum of 30.
Premier Mark McGowan said the additional tests would help reduce financial pressures on households, as well as limit the spread of the virus.
"The vast size of our state means those in the regions may not have the same level of access to supplies as those in the metropolitan regions," he said.
"The expansion of free RATs at more than 70 additional sites in the regions further supports people who are close contacts and can help meet their daily testing requirements."
