WA has recorded 1,179 new cases of COVID-19, with the total number of cases recorded in the state since the beginning of the pandemic exceeding 10,000 for the first time.
Rapid antigen tests were responsible for detecting more cases for the first time, with 673 self-reported RATs compared to 506 infections picked up from PCR tests.
There are now 5,594 active cases in the state, including 16 in hospital.
None of those people are in intensive care, which Premier Mark McGowan described as a "terrific outcome".
"We know that is going to grow significantly, but at this point in time that's a pretty good outcome," he said.
Cases to rapidly climb this week
WA could see as many as 2,500 cases a day by Friday, according to Chief Health officer Andy Robertson, which is why he recommended moving to level two restrictions from Thursday.
"The focus needs to be on decreasing numbers and mixing in high-risk venues, where masks and other physical distancing measures are more difficult to apply, or compliance is less likely," Mr Robertson wrote in his advice to the Premier.
He also reinforced the need for restrictions to be introduced early.
"The impacts of level two PHSMs [public health social measures] on transmission will not be seen fully for at least one week and the effect on serious disease and hospitalisations will not be manifest for at least two weeks," he wrote.
He said level one restrictions would likely be able to be reintroduced once WA is "demonstrably over the peak, which is, on average, two weeks after the peak."
G2G passes to remain
G2G passes have been a familiar part of WA's border restrictions since early in the pandemic and will remain in place even beyond the reopening on Thursday.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said that was primarily to help people prove they were vaccinated as part of Western Australia's entry requirements.
But he said it was also to help increase WA's booster dose rate, which currently sits around 64 per cent.
"We want to get it as high as we can," he told ABC Radio Perth.
"If we can get it above 90 then we'll be able to protect the most vulnerable amongst us."
Commissioner Dawson said while another step in the arrival process, he did not expect it to take long.
"It doesn't take much more than simply showing your phone to the code as you walk through," he said.
"Once that's done then you've completed your requirements."
He said arrivals will then be given two rapid antigen tests, with the first to be used within 12 hours of arrival.
Masks important for children: Telethon Kids
From Thursday, children in year 3 and above will be subject to the same mask rules as the rest of the population.
Some have questioned whether the measure is necessary, but infectious diseases specialist and head of the Telethon Kids Institute, Jonathan Carapetis, said it will make a difference.
"In schools where students wear masks, they dramatically reduce the rates of COVID outbreaks, of COVID transmission, there's very good data from the United States, from Germany to prove this," he told ABC Radio Perth.
"But the other reason is that kids can then bring it home, and they can transmit it to their loved ones including the elderly."
Professor Carapetis said parents should speak to their children about the importance of wearing a mask and find one they are comfortable wearing.
He said making sure children are not too bothered by their mask was more important than finding one with the greatest level of protection.
"Overall, the longer a child has a mask on at school, the more effective it's going to be."
Mr McGowan said it was important to try to limit the spread of the virus from children.
"Because they are in a room for an extended period of time with each other, by having mask-wearing you actually ensure that fewer of them, in fact probably none of them, are now close contacts," he said.
"So it means that we can continue to have children and staff going to school."
'No confidence': events industry
Tim Kennedy is the chair of WA's Events Industry Association, and said about 170 events had been thrown into jeopardy by the new rules, further denting confidence in the sector.
Under level two restrictions, which come into force on Thursday, public events will have to comply with the two-square-metre rule, with a maximum of 500 patrons.
"Everywhere outside of Western Australia look at Western Australia at the moment with absolutely no confidence that they have the ability to do anything here," he said.
"It's certainly creating issues that are going to take us a significant amount of time to overcome."
Mr Kennedy said businesses have barely made it through the last few years and will need substantial compensation to make it through the latest restrictions.
"There just simply isn't the capacity to continue to absorb those losses," he said.
"What are we doing now to actually stimulate the economy, stimulate event businesses and actually incentivise these businesses to be able to put events on at the moment?"
Mr McGowan said businesses will be offered support and decisions had been made to give the industry as much notice as possible.
"The way we've implemented rules and the things we've put in place has been far more timely, far more consistent, far more effective than other states in Australia and other places in the world," he said.
"But the thing about COVID is nothing's perfect."
Level two restrictions questioned
However, Opposition Leader Mia Davies said the government was still not providing enough information about why the restrictions were needed, given WA's booster dose rate sits around 64 per cent.
She said there were also inconsistencies in the government's plans, particularly around children wearing masks and how the rules apply to venues.
"People want to know that the response the government is putting in place is proportionate and that going through that pain is worthwhile, given the fact that we have the highest vaccination rates in the nation," she said.
"If this had been made public last week when questions were being asked about when we would shift to level two and what was required to shift to level two, there may have been the opportunity for some of those questions to be answered."
Ms Davies said restrictions should be continuously reviewed, rather than at the end of the month as Mr McGowan flagged yesterday.
