Western Australia has recorded 5,377 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, taking the number of active cases in the state to 27,465.
There are 112 people in hospital with the virus and five people are currently in ICU.
On Friday the state reported 5,005 cases, which was previously the highest number of infections recorded on a single day, but numbers decreased over the weekend.
No one died with the virus in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
PCR testing numbers remain high with 17,272 swabs taken yesterday, accounting for 2,245 of the new cases.
The remaining 3,132 infections were detected through self-reported rapid antigen tests.
More free RATs to be distributed
It comes as the government announced an expansion of its free RAT program, with each home to receive an additional 10 tests.
Those who have already registered to receive their initial allotment of five tests will automatically have the extra RATs delivered.
As well, 500,000 testing kits will be handed out at pop-up locations, including train stations, major events, universities and shopping centres.
"Bespoke arrangements" will be made to deliver 74,000 tests to households in remote and town-based communities.
Members of state parliament will receive 1,000 free RATs to give to people in their electorate.
So far almost 650,000 households have registered to receive free RATs.
"Due to international events, there is no doubt petrol prices are impacting cost of living pressures in WA," Premier Mark McGowan said.
"We want to make sure this doesn't prevent WA households from having access to RAT tests."
Schools hit hard by Omicron
Rising case numbers have had a dramatic impact on the number of schools dealing with COVID-positive staff and students, with almost 800 now managing active cases.
This represents more than 70 per cent of the state's schools.
Education Minister Sue Ellery said since the start of the school year, about 20,000 students and 2,000 staff have had to spend time in isolation.
But under rules introduced last week, many of those isolating because they are close contacts have the option to return to school as long as they comply with certain rules.
Ms Ellery said those changes were making a difference.
"I think people understand the rules now and they're into a pattern," she said.
"But there's no question it's tiring, it's extra work for staff, but it is what it is. We knew this was coming."
Mental health overhaul
The state government will release a report from an investigation sparked by the death of 13-year-old Kate Savage, who took her own life moments after leaving an appointment with the WA Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the report was recommended by the state’s chief psychiatrist, and included a five-year plan for overhauling the youth mental health system.
“In WA, approximately 14 per cent of kids from zero to 17 [years old] experience mental health issues. It’s even higher in regional Western Australia," she said.
Ms Sanderson said recommendations from the report included implementing more community-based treatment, increasing coordination between government departments, and increasing the number of peer workers and Aboriginal mental health workers.
“One of the biggest challenges in progressing the reform needed is workforce,” she said.
Part of the plan to address workforce shortages in the mental health system includes upskilling existing staff to support “new models of care”.
“These reforms are also critical to the ongoing work within the health system to address emergency department access,” Ms Sanderson said.
Early intervention call
Opposition health spokesperson Libby Mettam said she hoped the report would deliver real change for young people in WA.
"We've had enough reviews. We need to see proper investment in this space, because our kids can't wait," she said.
Ms Mettam pointed to early intervention support as being critical in helping more young people.
"We need to see proper investment in early intervention mental health," she said.
"Hospitals cannot be the only answer for children when they are feeling severe anxiety, depression, or a range of mental health disorders."
Ms Mettam, who is the local member for Vasse in the state's South-West, said the situation was particularly dire in regional areas, and support could not come quick enough.
Premier dials into Parliament from hotel
Premier Mark McGowan attended Parliament remotely today, the first time he's been seen publicly since leaving Sydney last week, where he gave evidence in a defamation trial brought by businessman Clive Palmer.
Since arriving in Perth, he has remained in self-imposed isolation, despite the state's rules no longer requiring vaccinated travellers to do so.
From his hotel room, he answered questions from the opposition about a police investigation into a staff member from the Department of Communities.
Mr McGowan was also questioned about a part of his evidence in the defamation case, which concerned legislation passed to prevent Mr Palmer from claiming damages in relation to a mining project.
That legislation was kept secret from all but a few people until shortly before it was introduced in Parliament.
Mr McGowan tipped of Kerry Stokes, proprietor of The West Australian newspaper, about the legislation in a text message, right before it was introduced.
Mr McGowan's own cabinet colleagues had only just found out about it an hour before it was tabled.
Today Mr McGowan told Parliament that level of secrecy was necessary in the circumstances.
He said much of the work that went into preparing for parliamentary sittings was kept confidential on both sides of politics.
"The idea that every single thing you do in public life, particularly when you're preparing for parliamentary debates or something of that nature, or you're engaged in Cabinet deliberation processes, should be open to public scrutiny is I think frankly ridiculous," he said.
