Western Australia to bring down hard border on March 3

Western Australia's hard border will come down in March, allowing the state to finally reopen to the rest of the country.

Premier Mark McGowan announced the border will reopen at 12.01am on Thursday, March 3, allowing quarantine-free travel across the border for people triple-dosed with a COVID-19 vaccine.

This comes after Mr McGowan cancelled the border reopening for February 5 back in January due to the high transmission of COVID-19 cases on the east coast.

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"Eventually there comes a point where the border is ineffective, when you get to high numbers within the state," he said.

Mr McGowan said delaying the opening of Western Australia's border from the planned date of February 5 had saved hundreds of lives.

"Proceeding with the original plan on February 5 would have been a complete unforced error," he said.

"Instead we created a safe pathway for tens of thousands of Western Australians to come home."

Mr McGowan has emphasised the state will reach over 70 per cent triple vaccination rates by March 3, acknowledging some Western Australians will be "apprehensive" about the reopening.

"March 3 will be a step forward for Western Australia, a safe step forward."

Interstate arrivals will have to take a RAT within 12 hours of arrival as well as having to have had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

International arrivals will also have to take a RAT within 12 hours of arrival.

Unvaccinated returning Australians to the state will have to undergo seven days of hotel quarantine.

Mr McGowan said the date set for opening WA's borders is final.

"This date is locked in and I can't foresee a situation where it would change," he said.

Mr McGowan said he could not say when restrictions in the state would end and that they would be active for "quite some time".

He said other states had been too quick to ease restrictions, referencing New South Wales removing and later reintroducing restrictions.

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New COVID-19 restrictions in WA

Mr McGowan has also announced increased COVID-19 restrictions in the state.

From 6am February 21, indoor mask requirements will be extended statewide.

Level one measures will be introduced in Perth, Peel and the south-west, the Great Southern, Wheatbelt and Pilbara.

Mr McGowan said these areas are where there is community transmission of the virus.

Level one measures include the two-square-metre rule for all hospitality venues, cultural venues, fitness venues, hair and beauty salons and places of worship.

Theatres, cinemas and major stadiums will be limited to 75 per cent capacity.

Nightclubs will also have the two square metre rule and will be capped at 500 patrons.

Dancing and standing consumption are still allowed.

"We are trying to strike a safe balance," Mr McGowan said.

Home gatherings are limited to 30 people and private outdoor events not at a person's home will be capped at 200 people.

Hospitals, disability and aged care centres will only permit four visitors per day, but Mr McGowan flagged there will be exemptions in compassionate circumstances.

Mr McGowan has announced bottle shops across WA will be removed from the list of places where proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required.

Spike in local COVID-19 cases

Western Australia recorded 194 new local COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours.

The state also reported eight travel-related cases.

That is a jump in cases from 177 local infections reported yesterday.

Mr McGowan said Western Australians will see a "continued growth in cases in the days ahead" due to the transmissibility of the Omicron variant.

There are no COVID-related patients admitted to hospital or ICU in the state.

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It comes as more than 95 per cent of Western Australians aged over 12 have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Just over 55 per cent of the population aged over 16 are triple vaccinated.