The WA branch of the Australian Nursing Federation has forecast an escalation of cracks in the state’s COVID-19 health response as the sector struggles to cope with rising hospital admissions and staff shortages.

State secretary Mark Olson claims Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital was short nearly 60 nurses on Thursday night, as the pandemic peak continues to cause major havoc across WA’s health system.

The fresh concerns for nurses comes as WA reported 15,565 new cases overnight, with 81,843 active cases and 279 people in hospital, 12 in ICU.

Olson told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings it was time the WA government reintroduced the mask mandate after WA’s chief health officer on Friday confirmed his belief the state’s COVID-19 case peak could now reach 25,000, after public restrictions were eased last Friday.

“Start bringing some restrictions in so we can slow the spread down,” Olson said on Friday.

Listen to WA chief health officer Andy Robertson on Perth Live with Oliver Peterson after 3pm today

“This is the same government that told us four weeks we had reached the peak, and now they’re telling us we’re only half way there.

“I’m just astounded at how many members of the public are willing to mask up.”

Press PLAY below to hear Mark Olson on the major impending issues for WA’s health system