Premier Steven Marshall addressed the South Australian public this afternoon with the latest information on the evolving COVID-19 situation in SA.
In the past 24 hours, 3,450 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in SA with a decrease of hospitalisations to 220. Intensive care patients remained at 26, with six of the ICU cases on a ventilator. A total of 2,401 cases were confirmed via a PCR test, with a further 1,049 confirmed using a rapid antigen test administered by SA Health.
Sadly, two deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours. Both were men in their 70s and 80s respectively.
The Premier stated he was pleased to see a drop in SA’s positive rate, and hoped that the state was currently at the height of the Omicron wave.
“We are really hopeful that we are in that peak phase in South Australia at the moment,” said Marshall.
SA Health is continuing to see a wave of COVID-positive staff, with 571 employees having the virus and a total of 911 staff members furloughed.
“I am very hopeful that we are at the peak of the omicron outbreak here in SA and we can start to ease those concerns [about health resources],” said Marshall.
In the last 24 hours, 24,120 tests were conducted in South Australia – 17,280 of which were PCR tests and a further 6,840 were reported rapid antigen tests. Marshall said the opening up of the rapid antigen test program has seen PCR test times shrink as SA inches closer to the Omicron peak.
“We are seeing our lines at the PCR tests diminish down…most are around one hour or less,” said Marshall.
The Premier further encouraged those who are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 to utilise SA’s PCR testing capabilities. It was stated that the turnaround time for PCR test results is sitting at a low of 9 hours – the lowest, which Marshall noted, SA has seen for months.
More South Australians will be able to access their COVID-19 booster and more five to 11’s appointments will be available with the Wayville vaccine clinic expanding to the Jubilee Pavilion from Thursday.
The major expansion will see 8,000 more booster appointments available each week for eligible South Australians, increasing to 15,000 in the coming weeks.
The move also allows the Wayville Clinic to increase appointments for our five to eleven kids by 850 per day from Monday, increasing to 1000 per day by the end of next week.
The clinic will run seven days a week from 8am until 4pm.
“Thank you to every South Australian who is lining up for a booster,” said Marshall. “We’ve been able to very significantly flex up the capacity for jabs here in South Australia.” “We really want to make sure we can get our state as protected as possible.”
Up to 132 inspections were conducted yesterday in SA through Operation Limit, which saw 12 sites across the state deemed non-compliant with the current restrictions. 11 of those sites received a caution and further COVID-safe training, with one licensed premise in the southeast receiving an expiation notice.
You may not always receive a call, SMS or email from SA Health.
You must follow the relevant health advice even if you have not been contacted.
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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