The Western Australia (WA) government has entered its next phase of the pandemic and unlocked new measures that had been drawn up in preparation for when the state reached a high COVID-19 caseload environment. Cases in WA have continued to climb, with the government pulling the trigger on Feb. 7 as the state records 265 active cases. “Western Australia is about to embark on its most challenging phase of the pandemic,” WA Premier Mark McGowan said. From Feb. 8, anybody deemed a close contact will be required to self-isolate for at least seven days, even if the person is asymptomatic. The definition for close contact will also be changed and will be defined as: A household member of a person with COVID-19 who has had contact with them during their infectious period Someone who had close personal interaction with a COVID-positive person during their infectious period, such as: Had at …