Police Commissioner Grant Stevens addressed the South Australian public today regarding the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
He announced new changes are happening from 4pm today in relation to the positive case that was announced yesterday. The positive case was a woman in Mount Gambier, who had been in Victoria. She had crossed the border in the border bubble.
She had symptoms from the 26th of September and went to get tested straight away. She has 4 children from aged 13 to 18, and test results from all children came back negative. As she was quite unwell, so was transferred to the Royal Adelaide so she can be treated and monitored. She had not been vaccinated. Her young family travelled with her, and remain in quarantine.
Grant Stevens announced new severe restrictions from 4pm, which will impact Mount Gambier, the Wattle Range Council area and Grant Local Government Area.
- Density to reduce to 1 person per 4sq
- Home gatherings limited to 2 visitors outside of those residing in the home
- Private activities are limited to 10 people, such as a wedding or funeral, or a gathering for a specific purpose like that
- There’s a prohibition on sports and participation
- No private functions
- Wearing of masks will be compulsory
Grant Stevens said they are trying to dramatically reduce activities to get on top of contact tracing, and these restrictions will be in place for a minimum of 7 days. He said it will take that long to go through the contact tracing, and see if there’s been any community spread.
SA Police said they are still looking into the woman’s activities, to ensure if there is community spread, that there is as much visibility on her actions as possible.
He continued, saying they are investigating the woman’s activities, as its critically important to have a clear picture on her movements, and the implications of that.
Journalists at the press conference speculated that the woman had travelled from Melbourne to Casterton, and on to Mount Gambier, but Grant Stevens wouldn’t confirm anything.
Grant Stevens said that people holidaying in Mount Gambier are encouraged to come home.
The smaller border bubble will continue, after being changed from 70kms to 30kms for a 7 day period. Anyone considering crossing the border in the border bubble is being asked to reconsider if it’s not crucial.
Dr Nicola Spurrier joined the press conference adding that by this time next week, to cross the border, you’ll most likely need at least one vaccine.
She also announced a new positive case from Victoria – a man in his 30s, who arrived yesterday and returned to Victoria today. He was a truck driver, and there is an exposure site, at On The Run in Port Augusta, both the petrol station, and the truck driver stop. He was there late last night but exact times haven’t been announced yet. They will be published on the SA Health website shortly.
They are expecting there to be a number of people who will need to quarantine.
He had a single dose of the vaccine, and could have transmitted the disease on to other people.
There were just under 4000 tests done yesterday, and Nicola Spurrier stressed that, that wasn’t enough to know if we have COVID-19 in the community.
She also said that thanks to the woman in Mount Gambier going and getting tested, she stopped the spread, and they were able to quarantine her and her children.
SA Health maintains that checking in with QR codes is still extremely important, as is making sure you are getting your vaccines.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible.
Find your nearest testing site at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting
More information is available at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing
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