Coronavirus crisis: WA records eight new COVID-19 cases

WA recorded eight new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, the biggest daily increase in almost two months.

All eight cases relate to returned overseas travellers who are in hotel quarantine, the Health Department said.

The last time WA recorded such an increase in a single day was on May 29, when eight crew from the Al Kuwait livestock ship tested positive.

There are now 29 active cases in WA. Of these, 22 are West Australians and seven are from interstate.

On Tuesday, 715 people in WA were swabbed for the coronavirus. More than 210,000 people in WA have been tested.

Overseas travellers forced into mandatory hotel quarantine in Perth will be billed $2520 from Friday — or $5040 for a family of four.

Travellers will be charged the same flat rate regardless of the hotel they assigned to, with the WA Government currently using Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Mercure, Novotel, Westin and Hyatt Regency.

Anyone arriving on or after Friday will be required to pay for their own quarantine, regardless of when they booked their flight.

Full or partial payment exemptions will be available for Australian citizens or permanent residents experiencing “genuine” hardship but applicants will be “expected to provide evidence” they are unable to meet their existing financial obligations.