Active cases fall to single digits as WA readies relaxation roadmap

More recoveries from COVID-19 in Western Australia means the state has just nine active cases of the virus, bringing the total down to single digits for the first time since the pandemic took hold.

WA Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) told a press conference this morning a 29 year-old who recently returned from overseas has tested positive, but the number of active cases was reduced by three new recoveries.

"Obviously, it's disappointing that our sreak of zero cases has come to an end, however we always knew we would get more cases as people returned from overseas or interstate," he said.

It was a similar story yesterday for South Australia, whose two-week run of no new daily cases was also cut short by a returned traveller testing positive.

McGowan said the good news was that the systems were in place to ensure the spread of the virus was limited, and there have now been 534 recoveries in the state.

"As a result we now have just nine active cases here in Western Australia - the first time we've hit single digits," he said.

"Only four people are in hospital in total, with one in ICU. The number of people in our hospitals with the virus continues to fall."

McGowan said after today's National Cabinet meeting, a State Disaster Council meeting will be held including the Police Commissioner and the Chief Health Officer to plan out Western Australia's roadmap forward.

"I want to provide the people of Western Australia with a way forward with a plan to get Western Australia moving in a safe and sensible way. I expect our roadmap to be finalised and ready for release on Sunday," he said.

"Clearly Western Australia has the opportunity to be more economically progressive perhaps than other states. The eastern seabord I expect will be more conservative as they have been along this road, but frankly they've had a much bigger problem than we have.

"Our hard borders allow us to do more than the eastern states can, so that initiative has meant that we can potentially loosen restrictions to a greater degree than the eastern states, but that's a decision the State Disaster Council will make later on today."

Updated at 10:01am AEST on 8 May 2020.