COVID-19

One new COVID-19 case, SA on track for ending lockdown

South Australia is set to end its lockdown on day 7 as planned, following only one new case today.

Premier Steven Marshall, Minister Wade, Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens addressed the South Australian public today on what marks the State’s fourth official day of lockdown.

During a weekend where South Australians have been ordered to stay home, there is 1 new case to report today. This is someone linked to the Tenafeate Creek Wines cluster, who has been in quarantine. This man and his wife are both in Tom’s Court.

Nicola Spurrier expects more cases linked to this cluster from both Tenafeate and the Greek on Halifax, however she says as everyone is in quarantine, it should be manageable. Spurrier says they’re confident they’ve contacted everyone at the Greek on Halifax and Tenafeate Creek Wines.

18,000 people have been identified as being at exposure sites. Not all are in quarantine, as not all are Tier 1, but Nicola Spurrier wanted to share those numbers to show the scale of what they’re dealing with.

One of the current positive cases in SA, a woman in her 80s, was transferred to the RAH last night. There is also another elderly positive case from Modbury at RAH, but both are stable.

Premier Marshall said in terms of testing, it’s been a good result 23,410 people being tested, which was just shy of Thursday’s numbers. The testing wait time has also massively dropped, with no longer than an hour wait time at any of the locations currently.

Premier Marshall said “This should be a huge relief for the residents of South Australia,” and thanked residents for lining up.

There has been a temporary closure of Victoria Park, due to flooding associated with the weather, but now SA also now has the Netball SA site open for testing. SA Health are also trialing a booking system, so people can book in within an hour range of when they can visit a site. It’s being trialed at Waterworld, Ridgehaven. It should be a huge relief to people so they won’t see excessive wait times, instead people will have a set time to go.

Premier Marshall said “I wrote to the Prime Minster yesterday asking to cancel some international flights into South Australia and I received confirmation that Monday and Tuesday’s flights will be cancelled”. Three international flights have been cancelled on Monday and Tuesday.

Marshall continued on, saying that we are still on track to come out of lockdown on Tuesday next week, so we should be back at work and school on Wednesday. He said that in regards to what measures or restrictions will be in place if the lockdown ends on track, it’s still to early to say, but there will definitely be some restrictions in place.

When asked if South Australia will send NSW vaccine supplies, Premier Marshall said following yesterday’s National Cabinet discussion “We can’t possibly be sending out vaccines to another state.”

This comes during the state’s seven-day lockdown, and after the announcement yesterday, Friday, July 23, when Marshall announced one new case, making a total of 15 in the state outside of medi-hotels. It also follows this week’s announcement of a $100 million COVID relief package and a rapidly increasing list of exposure sites.

Due to SA’s current COVID situation, thousands are currently quarantining and lining up to get tested. For our updated list of exposure sites, visit here.

COVID-19 Testing Site Updates

The Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi COVID-19 drive-through testing site is temporarily closed, due to weather. Follow SA Health’s post on Facebook (link here) for the latest updates on testing sites impacted by the weather. To find an alternative COVID-19 testing site near you, please visit: sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting

All South Australians who have symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested on the day symptoms appear.

Symptoms include:

– Fever or chills (in the absence of an alternative illness that explains these symptoms)
– An acute respiratory infection e.g. cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath
– Loss of smell or alteration in the sense of taste
– Diarrhoea and vomiting

For more information: SA COVID-19 Information Line 1800 253 787; sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVID2019.

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