Another 732 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Western Australia, with Premier Mark McGowan warning the number of new infections will soon exceed 1,000 per day.
It follows a big spike in the number of infections yesterday, when 645 new cases were reported.
Seven people with COVID-19 are now in hospital after two more cases were admitted yesterday, but none of them are in ICU.
Mr McGowan said it was clear case numbers were rising in the community.
"The mathematics are clear, we're not far away from recording over 1,000 new cases per day," he said.
"This is to be expected. It's not a cause for panic, but it's a reminder to take Omicron seriously."
PCR tests steady at over 11,000
The new cases were detected after 11,150 tests at PCR clinics and 25 self-reported positive rapid antigen test results.
It means the number of PCR tests has been steady at more than 11,000 for each of the last three days.
There are 2,147 active cases of COVID-19 in WA.
WA's largest remote Indigenous community, Bidyadanga near Broome, has confirmed 17 cases, with more expected to come.
Two of today's new cases were from the Bidyadanga outbreak, with the other 15 to be officially recorded in tomorrow's numbers.
The Northern Territory government said one of the three COVID-related deaths reported there today was a man from a remote community in WA.
The man, who was in his 60s and had underlying health conditions, passed away at Royal Darwin Hospital on February 18.
Mr McGowan said in "some good news", the state's population had reached a third-dose vaccination rate of more than 60 per cent in people aged 16 or older.
New business relief funding announced
The government has unveiled a "business assistance package" to support businesses affected by level one restrictions with an additional $67 million across eight support programs.
These include:
- $42 million for a tenant rent relief scheme, providing grants of up to $3,000 for eligible small business tenants, "subject to some criteria"
- $10.7 million for a landlord rent relief scheme to support eligible landlords with $1,500 if they voluntarily match the government's rent relief payments
- $5 million in support for creating or expanding alfresco dining to better fit with public health measures
- $3.5 million to wave licence renewal fees for liquor licences for eligible businesses
- "Further millions" to support small business tenants leasing from the government with payments of up to $6,000
- $1.8 million for a nightclubs assistance program, offering payments of up to $50,000 for eligible nightclubs dealing with strict attendance caps of up to 500 people
- $1.3 million in assistance for performing arts and theatres, with payments of up to $50,000 to provide cashflow assistance to a range of larger indoor entertainment venues particularly affected by capacity restraints.
Small businesses are eligible for the rent relief scheme if they can demonstrate a 30 per cent decline in revenue.
That decline must be demonstrated by comparing a six-week period between January 1 to April 30 of 2022 with another six-week period between January 1 and April 30 of 2021.
West Australians urged to 'go out'
Mr McGowan said much of the impact on businesses during the pandemic had not come through restrictions, but as the result of West Australians choosing to go out less.
"We're not saying that people need to work from home. Other states have done that continuously for many months if not years. We're saying please go to work," he said.
"[That is] subject to individual businesses and agencies making decisions based upon their own circumstances."
But he said if those businesses did suffer a decline in revenue, the new support packages were there to help.
Mr McGowan said the relief could be extended to the end of April, and beyond if needed
He again stressed that introducing level two restrictions and a four-square-metre capacity limit would be a "last resort".
But it was revealed modelling forecasting a peak of more than 10,000 daily cases in WA by the end of March was based on the assumption that level two measures would be used.
"But it is modelling … we'll monitor hospitalisation rates and vaccination rates which are important considerations as well," Mr McGowan said.
The Premier said if level two measures were introduced, further financial support would be rolled out, particularly for small businesses.
Businesses need quicker help: Opposition
Shadow Small Business Minister Steve Thomas said the support package should have been rolled out at the same time as restrictions.
In a statement, he urged the Premier not to hesitate to introduce further support if level two measures were introduced.
"Once again the application and approval process will mean the business community will have to wait for weeks or months after the restrictions hit to even find out if they qualify," he said.
"Business needs advance notice of the rules, especially when they keep changing those rules every week, and business needs to know in advance how they will be supported.
"While I welcome the extra package, it is obvious that the Premier is making this up as he goes along. There appears to be no plan for business impacts beyond the McGowan media strategy."
