Western Australia has recorded 14 new cases of COVID-19 in the community, with two cases in hospital and one of them in intensive care.
Premier Mark McGowan has urged anyone who is symptomatic to come forward and get tested as two of the new cases are not linked to previous infections.
He said there had been 9,831 tests yesterday, nearly a doubling of the almost 5,000 tested the day before.
"We need more West Australians to go forward and get tested," he said.
"Please come forward and get tested if you feel unwell, if you have symptoms, or if you have been to one of the exposure sites."
Four other WA cases have been recorded in overseas travellers who are in quarantine.
Earlier today the government reported there had been 15 new local cases, but it later clarified that one of the cases was a returned traveller.
90 per cent vaccination target reached
The person in ICU — a 61-year-old — is double vaccinated, the Premier said.
"As you know, even if you’re vaccinated you can get unwell," he said.
"But all of the evidence from the eastern states and around the world is if you're not vaccinated, your chance of getting very sick and dying is multiples of those people who are vaccinated."
Meanwhile, WA has reached a double-vaccination rate of 90 per cent for people aged over 12.
The rate was initially set to be catalyst for WA to reopen its borders on February 5, with the state reaching the target 11 days early.
But the Premier cancelled those plans on Thursday evening, citing the risks posed by the Omicron variant in other parts of the country.
Mr McGowan said WA now had a first-dose vaccination rate of 96.7 per cent among those over the age of 12, while 28 per cent of had their booster shot
He said more than 13,000 vaccination appointments had been booked between now and February 6, but around 7,000 were still available over that period.
Bunbury cluster grows to seven
The Premier confirmed there were now a total of seven cases of COVID-19 linked to a Bunbury cluster in the South West.
People in the regional city, 170 kilometres south of Perth, were told to get tested if they felt unwell after a breakout case was recorded in the region yesterday.
Mr McGowan said six of those cases were identified in one family while one additional case was unlinked.
Meanwhile, the ABC understands several cases have been identified among contractors working to build the Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant near Bunbury.
In a statement to the ABC, the plant's owner Albemarle said all workers at the site were vaccinated and the infected people were isolating, along with close contacts.
The company said it was working with WA Health contact tracers.
Bunbury's Mayor Jaysen de san Miguel said city workers would act as COVID marshals to remind people to wear masks at tomorrow's local Australia Day fireworks event.
He said the city was still seeking direction from the state government on some public safety aspects of the event.
"We're looking to see what implementations we need to do, we will of course have COVID marshals, which is of course part of any event we have at the moment," he said.
Premier hopes G2G system back tomorrow
The Premier said from tomorrow, WA families with children who were outside the state would be able to apply to return via the G2G system as part of the government's plan to manage the start of the school year.
But for other people wanting to enter the state, the G2G process may not be in place for some time.
Mr McGowan said he "hoped" the system would be in place for other applicants other than families with children.
"With families we hope the G2G system will be up and operational tomorrow. More broadly, hopefully tomorrow as well," he said.
"In terms of people coming home, I think there's a lot of misunderstanding out there.
"Western Australians returning can return home on the basis that they do two weeks quarantine, and that more broadly will kick in from February 5."
He said medical staff coming to WA for work would be able to serve truncated quarantine periods.
New details of hospital plans emerge
Meanwhile, a memo from the Chief Health Officer has revealed plans for elective surgery in public and private hospitals will be pared back to category 1 and 2 cases for about eight weeks.
This will exclude category 3, defined as non-urgent cases that are unlikely to deteriorate quickly but still can cause pain, dysfunction or disability.
According to the memo, "the proposed eight-week reduction aligns with the length of the expected COVID-19 peak … consistent with the experience in the eastern states".
N95 masks will be used in emergency departments in the advent of increasing case numbers, unlinked cases and cases detected by screening.
When there is widespread community transmission, ambulances will be reserved for patients with a clinical need.
Routine testing will not be required for health staff except those working with highly vulnerable groups.
Outpatient services are being urged to return to telehealth where possible.
Students are being permitted to attend hospitals but formal teaching sessions are unlikely once COVID-19 cases rise.
All hospital visitors and volunteers must be vaccinated.
