COVID in WA: Active cases rise as Australia’s death toll reaches sad milestone

WA has recorded 4390 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the number of active infections in the State to almost 30,000.

The latest figures on Sunday come as Australia met a grim pandemic milestone of 10,000 deaths from the virus, with the majority of fatalities happening in 2022.

More than 7000 virus-related deaths have been reported across the nation in 2022.

The tragic death toll ticked over to 10,008 after New South Wales and Victoria reported their COVID-19 fatalities.

As of 6pm on Saturday, the number of West Australians in hospital with the virus increased to 223, up from 218 on Friday.

There were nine people in the intensive care unit, one less than the previous day.

The total number of active infections in the State jumped by nearly 1000 to 29,942.

There were no COVID-19 deaths reported in WA in the latest update.

With Australia surpassing the 10,000 death toll marks, authorities have urged people to remain vigilant against the disease.

On Sunday, NSW reported an additional two COVID-19 deaths, while Victoria reported another 22.

South Australia recorded another six COVID deaths.

Ahead of a health ministers’ meeting, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said authorities were expecting a further wave of the virus in the coming months.

He pointed to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants taking hold across the country.

“We’ve seen overseas that there is a greater risk of reinfection, so if you have had COVID earlier this year in the first wave over summer, there is a risk that you are open to reinfection,” Mr Butler said.

“I do encourage you to go out and get that booster — it will provide further protection against the possibility of reinfection with these new subvariants over the coming months.”

Mr Butler said the health ministers would be talking about the evolving COVID-19 situation, as well as how the Federal Government could partner with the States and Territories to deliver election commitments.

Queensland reported no new COVID deaths on Sunday after the State’s Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said on Saturday that there was increasing pressure to bring back mask mandates.

The State’s Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’Ath, said on Sunday there was no change in mask rules.

“I don’t have any recommendations from the chief health officer here in Queensland to do that,” she said.

“But we do remind people as we go through this third wave that they can make those decisions (about when to wear masks) for themselves.”

On Australia surpassing 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, Ms D’Ath said people needed to remind themselves of the virus’ continuing global impact, with people still dying every day.

“Our health workers would prefer to not have to be caring for people who are seriously unwell with COVID, who are in ICU, and sadly, who are passing away with (the disease),” she said.

“There’s something we can do to at least ease the burden on our health workers who are dealing with these COVID deaths and that is getting vaccinated and encouraging (others) ... to get vaccinated.”

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA

NSW: 8864 cases, two deaths, 1657 in hospital with 43 in ICU

Victoria: 8368 cases, 22 deaths, 476 in hospital with 20 in ICU

Tasmania: 1062 cases, no deaths, 53 in hospital with three in ICU

Qld: 3971 cases, no deaths, 630 in hospital with 18 in ICU

WA: 4390 cases, no deaths, 223 in hospital with nine in ICU

SA: 2413 cases, six deaths, 226 in hospital with eight in ICU