The West Australian government is standing firm on its refusal to reintroduce the mask mandate, despite reports COVID-19 patients are being treated in corridors as the number of people in hospital exceeds 400 for the first time.
The state has reached a grim milestone, recording more than one million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, with 411 people now in hospital with the virus, a new record.
The Australian Nursing Federation yesterday warned it meant patients were already being treated in hallways, as hospitals are also hit with a perfect storm of rising flu cases and health staff furloughing.
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said she was not aware of reports that people had been treated in corridors, but she said patients would always be triaged appropriately.
"We always prefer patients to be in beds and in wards, of course, and I would certainly not expect that to be for any length of time," she told ABC Radio Perth.
"But I know that our hospitals are working at the front end and the back end incredibly hard to move patients through."
It comes as healthcare workers continue to call for masks to be reintroduced, to slow the next wave of the virus.
Both Western Australia's Premier and Health Minister said they would lead by example in wearing their masks but continued to resist calls for broader mandates.
Mask wearing is currently only mandatory in health and aged care settings, and when using public transport and ride-sharing services.
"Encouraging mask wearing for indoor crowded spaces is a nationally consistent approach, as outlined by the Prime Minister and agreed to by National Cabinet, and is something I fully endorse," Premier Mark McGowan said.
"I'm wearing a mask as appropriate, especially in crowded indoor settings; it's the right thing to do and I encourage everyone to do the same."
'We will follow the health advice', says minister
Ms Sanderson gave a similar response on ABC Radio Perth this morning.
"I will be wearing masks indoors to set an example, and also to help limit infection spread," she said.
"But, ultimately, these are decisions that are made by the Chief Health Officer and we will take that advice if we get it."
Last week, after the Victorian government declined to follow the advice of its Chief Health Officer, Mr McGowan refused to be drawn on whether he would always listen to expert advice.
However, Ms Sanderson struck a different tone this morning, insisting the government had always taken a cautious and sensible approach to managing COVID-19.
"We have always followed the Chief Health Officer's advice and nothing has changed," she said.
Ms Sanderson also defended the government's decision to consider scaling back COVID-19 protocols at hospitals, after being criticised by medical groups over the weekend.
That could include removing the need for people without symptoms to take a RAT before entering a hospital, something the Australian Medical Association described as a "terribly bad plan".
"We're really at a point where we're balancing risk in managing this pandemic," Ms Sanderson said.
"No decision's been made, but this is being done by the Chief Health Officer, the public health team, in consultation with hospitals to keep hospitals as safe and infection free as possible and keep as many frontline workers seeing patients."
It comes as the health system struggles to make do with around 1,500 staff currently furloughed.
Opposition says McGowan government 'failing'
The Opposition accused the McGowan government of playing a "desperate game of catch-up" with the health system.
Opposition health spokeswoman Libby Mettam said the government was opening new modular wards in hospitals, such as at Osborne Park hospital this month, but not new beds.
Ms Mettam also called on the government to do more to attract new nurses and health staff to Western Australia.
Public sector nurses in New South Wales are being given a one-off $3,000 thank-you bonus for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Sanderson said the states and territories needed to work together to ease staffing pressures.
But Ms Mettam said the McGowan government was sitting on its hands.
"It's extraordinary that other states with significant deficits are incentivising their workforce and trying to attract workers, while the McGowan government continue to fail trying to support this workforce," she said.
