Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier addressed the South Australian public this afternoon with the latest information on the evolving COVID-19 situation in SA.
In the 24 hours to midnight last night, there has been an increase to 1,138 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in SA.
Hospitalisations have increased slightly to 219 with 18 people in ICU and five on ventilators.
There has been no deaths in the past 24 hours.
The state’s active cases have dropped down to 13,292 while 6,852 PCR tests have been taken in the 24 hours to midnight last night.
Spurrier said there is currently 60 per cent of people who have symptoms currently getting tested and it is nice to see a high number of PCR tests being taken.
“Going back to school this week we are seeing an increase in testing numbers which is no surprise,” she said.
STATE ELECTION VOTING
Spurrier commented on the SA Electoral Commission’s announcement today of its plans for the upcoming state election. The announcement outlined that South Australians with COVID-19, isolating at home or deemed a close contact will still be able to vote this March 19.
This will be through SA Health PCR testing and RAT collection sites set to double as a ballot collection sites from Thursday, March 17 until election day, allowing those isolated under the current COVID restrictions to roll up and vote.
Spurrier said the new way of voting has undergone months of planning, and is glad that there is now an option for all to vote.
“It’s very important for all South Australians to vote; the SA Electoral Commission has done a fantastic job in putting everything in place,” she said.
“I want to stress that this is not just for cases and close contacts in quarantine, but also if you wake up on election day and you have a sore throat or runny nose…you do have the option to apply online and go vote and get a test done at the same time.
“We are pleased we have the election organised and everyone who wishes to vote will be able to vote safely.”
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible.
For more information on health advice and requirements for households, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing.
Find your nearest testing site at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting
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