WA Premier Mark McGowan says the state is at the height of its Omicron wave, and it appears the daily doubling of case numbers predicted by the Chief Health Officer’s modelling is over.

Mr McGowan announced most level two restrictions, which had capped household visitors at 10 and venue patrons to 150, would be lifted as of Thursday, March 31.

Mask wearing would still be required indoors for adults and children in year three and above, other than in the home.

Press PLAY below to hear 6PR reporter Jake Battrick’s wrap of Thursday’s COVID-19 press conference

WA has seen more COVID-19 cases cumulatively than had been anticipated, but the Premier said hospitalisations and ICU admissions were below predictions.

He said the state was on course for the “soft landing” West Australians had strived for, and WA’s “world-leading” vaccination levels were “our best weapon in our fight against Omicron”.

Under the new restrictions, West Australians will no longer be required to ‘check in’ at venues such as supermarkets, but the requirement will remain for venues such as pubs and cafes.

Private indoor gatherings are capped at 30 people, including household members, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 200 people.

Crowd caps at nightclubs and other venues would be raised to 500 for two weeks, and Mr McGowan said they would be “safely removed from April 14”.

Major stadiums such as Optus Stadiums can operate at 75 per cent capacity, and proof of vaccination requirements for venues and workers will remain in place.

More stringent restrictions, including a limit of two visitors per day, remain in place for “high risk” settings including hospitals, aged care and disability care.

WA Health announced six historical COVID-19 deaths dating back to early March on Thursday as the state recorded 8616 new cases overnight.

A woman in her 80s with COVID-19 died on Wednesday and six other deaths, dating back to March 11, were reported to WA Health the same day.

From 12:01am Thursday March 31, most Level 2 measures will be eased back to Level 1, with some modifications based on risk:

• Masks required indoors for adults and children in Year 3 and above, other than in the home.
• Indoor home gatherings limited to a total of 30 people, including household members.
• Private outdoor gatherings limited to a total of 200 people, subject to the 2-square-metre rule if at a private residence
• 2-square-metre rule for hospitality venues, nightclubs, convention centres or function centres, with a cap of 500 patrons (for two weeks only)
• Standing service to resume at hospitality venues and nightclubs
• 2-square-metre rule for fitness venues, entertainment venues, galleries and museums, places of worship, hairdressers and beauty services
• 75 per cent capacity for seated entertainment venues such as theatres and cinemas
• 75 per cent capacity for major stadiums, such as Optus Stadium, RAC Arena, HBF Stadium (main area) and HBF Park
• 2-square-metre rule for Perth Crown Complex including the gaming floor
• Higher restrictions in the highly vulnerable settings of hospitals, aged care and disability care will remain
• Proof of vaccination requirements for venues and workers will remain in place
• Critical worker, school and childcare test and isolation settings will remain in place

Liberal MLC Steve Thomas said he believed the real number of COVID-19 cases in the community was much higher, with the public becoming pandemic fatigued and seeking a pathway out of the state’s rolling state of emergency laws.

“The government has either, by good planning, good luck or a combination of the two, has managed to keep COVID out until a very mild strain has arrived in force,” he told WAtoday.