Following the National Cabinet’s meeting this morning, South Australia’s Premier Steven Marshall gave a press conference discussing the State’s economic position.
Saying that despite the likely tough months ahead, Australia as a nation is in a far better position than many other countries around the world.
Discussing that the positive health response is giving investors great confidence in the country, and our banking sector remains strong.
He also discussed Australia’s response to COVID-19 as being significantly better than expected four or five weeks ago.
Noting the low community transmission across Australia, and highlighting that SA has seen none since March 20th.
As testing around the country has continued to decline with fewer people are coming back from overseas, he says that the blitz testing in SA will also be rolled out across the country.
He also confirmed that the current level of restrictions will continue for the coming weeks, and to ensurer that the necessary testing and PPE are in place before significant moves towards restrictions are made.
Cases
Dr Michael Cusack, SA deputy chief public health officer, gave an update on current cases and the issue surround RAH masks.
An update on current cases shows one new case in SA, a person in their 40s. Bringing the total to 434 with no further community transmissions.
There has also been four recoveries today, bringing the total of recovered to 308 (70% of all SA cases)
There are currently 10 patients in hospital, two in intensive care with one in critical condition.
Regarding the ICU Nurse, 34 associated contacts, including 29 nurses, three doctors, and one other are all in now in quarantine.
The ICU nurse contracting COVID-19 brought on the question her PPE. Masks have been found to not be resistant to forceful splashes of fluid.
The 600,000+ masks that SA was given from the Commonwealth stockpile have been recalled, with replacements and now full face shields provided to frontline staff.
The old stock is currently being tested to determine if they are working at capacity.
Despite promising statistics, the Premier reminded us that there over 7400 deaths from COVID-19 globally, and that restrictions are not being changed.
Following the testing blitz announcement, he reiterated that anyone with any symptoms, including a simple runny nose, should get tested during this blitz.
Already there has been increased activity in COVID-19 clinics.
The Premier also says that new N95 masks have been sent to the RAH with tests on current stocks pending.
Detmold is also set to create bulk masks with machinery arriving from China.
Elective Surgery
In regard to elective surgery, he says that restrictions will be looked at next week, and that if they can be certain the PPE will be in place, they may remove some of those restrictions.
Schools
On schools, he says that a new national set of principles has been signed up to by all jurisdictions, and that it remains safe for children to go to school.
In Term two, schools will remain open, and no children will be turned away, with efforts to building attendance throughout term two.
Reptatriation
On the issue of people who are stranded in states not where they normally live in, the Federal Government, Virgin, and Qantas are working with the Government to put on a significant number of flights to repatriate people back to their state or origin.
More to come.
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