Western Australia's COVID-19 cases are still yet to reach their expected peak, with new figures revealing about one-third of last week's infections occurred in children aged under 18.
COVID-19 hospitalisations and ICU admissions remain steady in WA, with the state still yet to break the 10,000 new daily cases mark.
It comes after restrictions were eased today, reducing capacity limits and the number of venues where check-ins are required.
As of 8pm last night, there were 219 people in hospital, up from 208 yesterday, and seven in intensive care.
A total of 9,727 new cases have been reported, bringing the total number of active infections to 52,533.
High rate of infections in young people
New figures from WA Health have revealed about 35 per cent of last week's COVID infections were reported in children aged under 18.
The latest data from New South Wales showed similar rates of infection in that age group.
Earlier this week, WA Education Minister Sue Ellery said 992 of the roughly 1,130 schools in the state were currently impacted by the virus.
To date, more than 5,500 staff and 90,000 students have been forced into isolation, either as a positive case or a close contact.
After recording the lowest double-dose vaccination rate for children aged between five and 11 earlier this month, WA now sits above the Northern Territory and Queensland at 23 per cent.
Almost 80 per cent of 12 to 15-year-old children are fully vaccinated.
About 2pc of population have virus
WA's current case load means about two in every 100 people currently have COVID-19.
To try and manage the high rate of infections in young people, the government has set up a dedicated child health clinic in East Perth for children and parents in isolation.
While some health checks for children aged up to two years old can be done over the phone, the clinic will be able to help those requiring urgent face-to-face help.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said that would include mothers facing breastfeeding challenges, or infants with growth concerns who needed in-person attention immediately.
"For many families, the child health service may be their only contact with the health system, so it is important to ensure that all families, and especially the most vulnerable, are provided with a service to meet their needs," she said.
A second clinic is planned for Duncraig in the coming weeks.
Partygoers hit streets at midnight
The majority of today's cases, 5,664, were detected by rapid antigen tests, with 4,063 coming from 17,787 PCR tests.
Premier Mark McGowan said those figures showed the value in providing free RATs to the community.
Revellers leapt at the opportunity to head back to nightclubs last night, with crowds lining up for the official easing of restrictions at 12:01am.
Pubs and restaurants have opened to higher capacity limits, with more people also allowed at private gatherings.
Premier flags lingering restrictions
Mr McGowan reiterated that hospitalisations and ICU rates were the key figures to keep watching, saying some restrictions could remain for a "considerable period of time".
"That's all about making sure we have the right balance of restrictions combined with increasing vaccination levels," he said.
The Premier has said the government will ease restrictions further as soon as it is safe to do so.
He also encouraged people to go out and support local businesses, while remaining cautious and making sure they wore masks.
When asked about speculation Premier League club Manchester United could return to Perth later this year, Mr McGowan said the government was working with a number of organisers about bringing events to Perth.
But he said they could be confident in planning to come to WA.
"Our very high vaccination levels mean that the border will remain open," he said.
Opposition calls for more detail
Opposition Leader Mia Davies continued to pressure the government to outline more detail about its plans on easing restrictions further, including a better understanding of when more changes would be made.
"We want trigger points, we want to understand how the government is making those decisions, because there still is an impact on small businesses, on community organisations," she said.
"It's about being open and transparent, and that's something that we've struggled with in terms of this McGowan Labor government when it comes to making announcements in relation to COVID."
Ms Davies said the government also needed to ensure restrictions like G2G passes and proof-of-vaccination requirements were proportionate to the risks.
