WA police pleased with Easter beachgoers

By AAP Newswire

West Australian beachgoers have heeded the call to continue social distancing during the Easter break as cruise ship passengers prepare to emerge from quarantine.

WA recorded 11 new coronavirus cases overnight, taking the state's total to 506.

Police officers patrolled some of Perth's most popular beaches on Friday as the temperature hit 36C to start the Easter break.

Health Minister Roger Cook said police had been satisfied with the behaviour of beachgoers, who had largely been respecting physical distancing guidelines.

"We are fairly pleased with the way things are going at the moment," he told reporters.

"Obviously we'll continue to patrol the beaches and make sure that people are observing all of the necessary measures around physical and social distancing.

"If people do flaunt those guidelines, the police and local government authorities will take measures to close those beaches."

Perth's temperature is set to touch 37C on Saturday before cooling to 27C on Sunday.

The latest confirmed coronavirus cases included a further four people from the Artania cruise ship, which remains docked in Fremantle.

Sixty five passengers and crew from the German liner have tested positive in total.

A further 53 cases came from the Ruby Princess and in total, 191 cases in WA have been linked to cruise liners.

Passengers from the Vasco Da Gama vessel will come to the end of their 14-day quarantine period on Friday afternoon.

WA passengers have been housed on Rottnest Island and those from other states have been isolated in two hotels in Perth.

Mr Cook said the state government would continue to accommodate any passengers who could not depart immediately with limited flights available.

"We want to reassure people who have been in isolation that we will be working to make the transition home as smooth as possible for them so they can return to their homes and families as quickly as they can," Mr Cook said.

"We understand those in isolation and quarantine have endured difficulty and stress and appreciate the sacrifice they and their family and friends are making to keep our community safe."

Mr Cook said 14 employees at Kalgoorlie Health Campus in the state's Goldfields region had self-isolated as a precaution after coming into contact with a confirmed case.

He said they were well and the hospital remained fully operational.

WA has so far recorded six coronavirus deaths.