Western Australia will be removing its hard border on Mar. 3 and allowing interstate travel, with the state government admitting rapidly growing Omicron cases were becoming harder to control. Western Australia is the last state to release its border controls as other parts of the country begin to open up and ease restrictions. New compulsory measures include mask mandates indoors and a 2-square-metre distancing rule for some venues, including places of worship and hospitality venues. Existing proof of vaccination requirements will remain, including for most of the state’s workforce, visitors to hospitals and aged care facilities, and health, entertainment, fitness; and hospitality venues. After recording a total of 724 actives cases, including 194 locally transmitted cases on Feb. 18—the highest number of daily cases the state has experienced since the beginning of the pandemic—WA Premier Mark McGowan said the time had come to open the borders. “While this will be …