Another day, another record for local COVID cases in WA

Western Australia recorded 177 new local cases of COVID-19 overnight, with multiple infections linked to events at The Avenue in Claremont, Cottesloe Beach Hotel and Gage Roads in Fremantle.
The state also registered 12 travel-related infections, bringing WA’s number of active cases to 574.
Of the new cases, 33 were self-reported through RATs, while 7502 people received a PCR test on Wednesday.
No one has yet to be admitted to hospital because of the virus.
WA Premier Mark McGowan was at Gage Roads on Friday night, a potential superspreader event, but has since returned two negative RATs, with reports he left the venue just 15 minutes shy of being a close contact under new WA Health directives issued on Wednesday night, with patrons considered close contacts if they spend at least two hours at an exposure site.
The new close contact rules were earlier criticised by prominent WA publican Tim McLernon, who said hospitality venues would be forced to close in coming months if the two-hour limit remained alongside strict mandates on mask wearing and proof of vaccination status.
Press PLAY below to hear more on the potential hospitality crisis.
Graphic: WAtoday.com.au