Western Australia has recorded only one new COVID-19 case, taking the state's total to 545.

Key points: Perth had no new cases for the first time since WA's testing regime began

Perth had no new cases for the first time since WA's testing regime began More ventilated beds will be made available ahead of the flu season

More ventilated beds will be made available ahead of the flu season A flight carrying remaining Artania passengers and crew has left Perth

WA Health Minister Roger Cook said a 60-year-old man who was a close contact of a confirmed case had tested positive in the state's Goldfields.

He was identified as part of contact tracing undertaken by the Goldfields Public Health unit and has been in isolation since April 8.

It marks the first day since the state's testing regime began where there have been no new cases in the Perth metropolitan area.

There are now 426 recovered cases across WA, with 48 of them from regional areas.

WA COVID-19 snapshot Confirmed cases so far: 662

Confirmed cases so far: 662 Recovered: 650

Recovered: 650 Deaths: 9

Deaths: 9 Total tests: 395,402 Latest information from the WA Health Department





A total of 28 COVID-19 patients remain in Perth hospitals, including six in intensive care.

Mr Cook said the continued low numbers of new cases gave the health system more time to "take on anything the COVID-19 virus may throw at us".

"We've had a number of days now of delightful and very encouraging numbers, however we cannot be complacent," he said.

"But what we have done is bought ourselves time, precious time."

Extra ventilated beds to help deal with 'surge'

The Minister also announced a plan to increase the number of ventilated beds in WA if they were required.

The plan is expected to eventually bring more than 600 ventilated beds into service. ( ABC News: James Carmody )

The state had about 111 ventilated beds available across public hospitals at the start of the outbreak, with a handful currently being used for COVID-19 patients.

But Mr Cook said this demand may increase as winter and the peak flu season approach, and some ventilators would be moved around the state and around hospitals.

"This plan represents our ability to deal with a surge in patients and includes being able to access all of our ICU beds and increase capacity as required," he said.

Mr Cook said it was expected to eventually bring more than 600 ventilated beds into service.

The Government will also utilise private hospitals by either transferring public patients to private beds with ventilators, or temporarily taking private hospital ventilators to public hospitals.

The Health Department's Liz McLeod, who is the clinical lead on WA's COVID-19 response, said it would ensure there was the capacity and agility to meet any surge in demand.

She said the department was carrying out additional workforce training to provide sufficient staff.

Mr Cook also flagged the prospect of resuming urgent category two elective surgery.

He said WA had made a submission to National Cabinet on resuming some elective surgery as long as it did not impact COVID-19 capacity, the public health risk was low and there was enough personal protective equipment.

"We've done some great work in terms of acquisition, of procurement of PPE in Western Australia, so we believe that we are now getting to the position where we can look at bringing some urgent category two elective surgery on," Mr Cook said.

"But ultimately, that's a decision for National Cabinet."

The Minister cited the need for work around ear, nose and throat procedures and prostate cancers.

Artania charter flight bound for Bangkok

Earlier, a flight carrying about 58 remaining Artania cruise ship passengers and crew who were staying in Perth hotels left the city bound for Bangkok.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 23 seconds 1 m 23 s Crowds farewelled the Artania as it left port.

The charter flight was organised by the cruise liner's operator and took off as the vessel continued its journey to Europe.

The Artania had been docked in Fremantle for more than three weeks after first reporting COVID-19-like sickness onboard.

The cruise ship left Western Australia yesterday after 400 crew and 11 passengers still on board completed a 14-day quarantine period.

The Artania's captain and crew waved goodbye as the cruise ship left Fremantle. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )

At least 81 of WA's 545 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the vessel, with 11 crew and passengers still in Perth hospitals as of yesterday.

Premier Mark McGowan said on Saturday he was pleased to see the cruise ship saga coming to an end.

"The Artania caused me sleepless nights, so I'm very pleased that she sailed, and I'm very pleased that we solved the problem," he said.

"There was no doubt we were facing a situation that could easily have turned into a major health crisis, one we would have lost control over and could have led to our hospitals being overrun with sick people from cruise ships.

"It is a credit to everyone involved that we are now in this position."