Western Australia records massive spike in Covid-19 cases and one death as hard border comes down

Western Australia has recorded a massive jump in Covid-19 cases and one death overnight, as the hard border finally came down — but the Premier has warned it could come back.

Many families are celebrating the dismantling of Western Australia’s hard border, but Premier Mark McGowan is refusing to rule out its return.

There were many emotional family reunions at Perth Airport on Thursday, with quarantine-free travel allowed again after almost 700 days of border restrictions.

Mr McGowan heralded it a “new era” of the pandemic, with 27,000 people expected to arrive in the state over the next week.

“Today’s a big step forward for Western Australia – a new chapter in the story that we’ve all had to endure together over the past two years,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“While the next few weeks will contain the toughest challenge we have faced as we deal with our own Omicron Covid wave, better times are obviously ahead.”

Asked to give a guarantee that the hard border would not return in the future, Mr McGowan said: “We don’t have any intention whatsoever of putting back in place the border, but the border has worked.”

When he was further pressed on the issue, Mr McGowan refused to confirm the hard border was down for good.

“You can never guarantee these things,” he said.

Premier Mark McGowan revealed on Thursday that one person infected with Covid-19 had died overnight. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sharon Smith

“Obviously, if another strain comes along that is deadly, or a different illness comes along, or something of that nature — no government can guarantee that.

“I’ll just remind you all, the Commonwealth government put in place a border around Australia as well, and every state in Australia actually at one point in time or another had borders in place.”

It comes as WA recorded a whopping 2423 new Covid-19 cases overnight and the death of a woman aged in her 80s.

Mr McGowan said of the new cases, only three were travel-related and the rest were local infections.

There are now a total of 8419 active cases in WA and 22 people in hospital – up from 16 the previous day, but none of are in intensive care.

Mr McGowan said 843 people were diagnosed via rapid antigen tests.

“Tragically, I can report one person has passed away,” he said.

The death is just the third in WA linked to community transmission during the pandemic.

There have been many emotional reunions at Perth Airport as WA’s hard border came down. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Mr McGowan also announced a $12m Wander Out Yonder marketing blitz around the nation to encourage travellers to holiday in WA.

He said WA was one of the strongest and safest places to holiday in the world with one of the highest vaccination rates.

“We have an amazing story to tell and need to tell it loudly, proudly and positively to Australia and the rest of the world,” the Premier said.

Returning international passengers were greeted on arrival at Perth Airport on Thursday. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Meanwhile, federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese is currently in Perth and is hitting the campaign trail in marginal seats held by the Liberals including Pearce, Hasluck and Swan.

Mr McGowan confirmed they would meet in private but would not hold any media appearances together.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison had hoped to visit WA, but he is currently quarantining in Sydney after contracting the virus this week.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg denied the federal government had ignored funding for WA.

“That’s just a bald-faced lie; it’s bollocks, it’s political at its worst,” he told 6PR radio on Thursday.

“We have dispensed more than $14bn to the people of WA since the start of Covid.”

Originally published as Western Australia records massive spike in Covid-19 cases and one death as hard border comes down