Western Australia's new Covid cases more than double to 645

Western Australia’s Covid daily cases have surged 645 as the Omicron outbreak finally takes off a week before state borders open.

New infections more than doubled from thee 263 diagnosed on Tuesday, by far the most new infections recorded in a day during the whole pandemic.

Hospital patients rose to five with another two admitted overnight, but there was still no one in ICU.

WA has more than 2,000 active cases, with more than 4,000 infected since the Omicron variant made it to Perth just after Christmas.

The virus has spread throughout the state outside the capital city despite Premier Mark McGowan bringing in restrictions.

Mr McGowan finally agreed to open the border on March 3 last week, admitting he failed to control the outbreak and there was no point staying walled off.

He earlier reneged on a promise to open up on February 5 as Omicron cases surged in other states, and tried to maintain the state’s ‘zero-Covid’ stance.

Families have been kept apart by the hard border for almost all of the past two years with the whole country locked out since December and NSW and Victoria since May. 

WA Health modelling claim there will be a ‘conservative estimate’ of 464,000 symptomatic cases and 5,685 general ward hospital admissions in six months.

There would also be 715 ICU admissions and 129 deaths.

Symptomatic cases would peak at 10,000 a day with 443 hospital patients, 56 ICU admissions, and three deaths.

More to come.