COVID-related labour shortages are set to impact Saturday's federal election, as Western Australia records another 16,253 infections — the third-highest daily figure since the pandemic began.
After impacting almost half of St John WA's workforce and placing the state's hospitals under unprecedented pressure, the virus has now also hit the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).
It has prompted Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers to warn that not all planned polling places will be operational in WA, with the electorates of Durack and O'Connor hardest hit.
Mr Rogers said the difficulties come despite the commission's best efforts.
"Short of handing out blank cheques for work or accommodating thousands of single-day workers in interstate locations, there is not much more we could have done so far," he said.
"We're calling on other organisations to assist as a final push, and investigating all possible staffing models including amalgamating venues."
Local residents being asked to staff polling booths
Mr Rogers said the commission was engaging with local residents in the hope they'll put their hand up.
In WA there are 26 localities or suburbs affected, including many in regional areas like Paraburdoo, Hopetoun, Coolgardie, and Norseman.
The list is expected to become smaller as the week goes on, and those interested in helping out can find more information here.
Despite today's high daily caseload, active cases in the state have fallen slightly from 88,710 to 88,100.
The latest statistics also show three more deaths of people with COVID-19.
The total number of patients in West Australian hospitals with the virus has grown by two to 327, with 12 in intensive care.
Western Australia's peak day for new infections so far remains last Wednesday, when 17,033 cases were recorded.
'Winter is coming': Premier
Premier Mark McGowan acknowledged while hospitalisations for COVID remained low in WA, the high case numbers were having a huge impact on the workforce.
But he said it was a difficult situation to avoid and was likely better that it hit now than at the height of winter.
"It's a very complex set of circumstances, but the most significant thing is we have very high vaccination rates, which is reducing our hospitalisation and intensive care rates," he said.
"[That means] we don't have those death rates and those terrible outcomes the other states and other countries around the world have endured.
"It's far better to have the situation that we're experiencing now, rather than in July when you have more waning of the vaccine efficacy and a great many more people enduring the consequences of a cold winter."
Mr McGowan said one of the greatest impacts of the high level of cases in WA was on the number of hospital and ambulance staff off sick.
"That's difficult to avoid at this point in time because we don't want COVID positive people spreading the virus more in workplaces and potentially putting pressure on our hospital system," he said.
"Trying to strike the right balance, it's not easy, but there are very few ways of avoiding the situation we are currently in, particularly as vaccines wane and particularly as we approach winter."
Mr McGowan has continued to resist calls from peak medical groups to reintroduce restrictions like the mask mandate as hospitalisation figures remain above 300.
He said he expected to provide an update later today in relation to the death of a Perth woman who waited more than two hours for an ambulance on Sunday morning.
"Hopefully, we'll have more to say about the St John Ambulance issue later today, but I just want to reiterate how awful it was for Georgina Wild and her family, and we're very sorry that this has occurred," he said.
Yesterday, Mr McGowan said despite ambulance staffing levels being down 40 per cent at the time, the situation was "not acceptable".
Money for COVID cleaning at sports clubs
Mr McGowan's comments came as the state government, with support from Lotterywest, made available $1.65 million in grants for sport and recreation clubs to implement COVID-safe measures.
Clubs that have a physical facility such as clubrooms can apply for a one-off $2,000 grant, while clubs without facilities are eligible for a $500 payment.
The COVID-19 cleaning subsidy can be used for purposes such as buying cleaning products, hiring cleaners, purchasing hand sanitiser, face masks and rapid antigen tests, or for printing signs.
"We understand many of these clubs may not have budgeted for additional costs associated with clubroom and equipment cleaning, and personal hygiene support for volunteers," Sports Minister David Templeman said.
The deadline to apply for the grants is May 30.
Drive-through RAT collections for close contacts
Meanwhile, three drive-through sites have opened in Perth for close contacts of COVID-19 cases to collect 10 free rapid antigen tests.
The sites are in Joondalup, Jandakot and Bassendean.
Close contacts collecting the free RATs must wear a mask and are only required to verbally confirm they are a close contact.
