Tonight Police Commissioner Grant Stevens held a press conference following a meeting with SA Health to discuss the current situation with Covid in South Australia and the restrictions we have in place.
SA Health and SA Police are very concerned about the current situation that we’re facing and this arises from the situation in NSW and the significant number of positive cases that have been active in the community and also the emerging situation in Victoria with the positive cases that have been identified there.
Commissioner Grant Stevens said, “We also have the situation where we have a positive exposure site in Tailem Bend and the situation with 2 removalists who have tested positive after being in South Australia, and having been at that location for an extended period.”
“There are some key messages that need to be communicate.”
TAILEM BEND UPDATE
“Firstly, with the Tailem Bend exposure site, the Shell service station and the attached cafe – there were 25 QR check ins at that facility during the time of concern, yet there were 76 credit card transactions. This is a major factor in our considerations in next steps for South Australian restrictions. We need to be confident that South Australians are doing the right thing, using those QR check ins, so we can actively contact those people when we’re contact tracing.”
“At this point there are in the order of about 118 close contacts that have been identified, from the Tailem Bend exposure site. People MUST check in if we are to have confidence in the QR data and rely on that to maintain the low level of restrictions that we have in South Australia.”
IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN VICTORIA
He went on to say, “We’re also very concerned about the fact that there has been a positive case that has arisen from the MCG last weekend, and I could encourage every South Australian resident who was at the MCG or that football game, to isolate and get tested, and contact SA Health for further instruction. If you have been in Victoria over the last weekend, I would encourage you to make use of the Victorian Health intranet site, and assess if you’ve been in any high risk location, and seek further advice if you have.”
Some changes were then announced.
ENTERING SA FROM VICTORIA
Commissioner Stevens said “from midnight tonight, as a first step, we are requiring all people who are coming in from Victoria, to undertake level 1 testing. That means you must have a test within 24 hours of arriving in South Australia, and you are not permitted to go into a high risk location, such as an aged care facility until you have a negative result. That only requires one test at this time.
He then said “We are requiring all freight drivers who are entering South Australia to produce evidence of a negative covid test that has been undertaken in the last 48 hours on arrival to the State. If you don’t have a negative result, you’ll be required to have a test within 24 hours of arriving in South Australia.”
These steps are being put in place as a first measure.
He then reiterated to check in, get tested if you have symptoms and do the right thing, and stressed that we are on the verge of harsher restrictions if things get any worse.
This news also comes as NSW announces their lockdown is extended for another two weeks following 97 new locally acquired cases in the state.
People experiencing any of the following symptoms should be tested for COVID-19:
• Fever or chills (in the absence of an alternative illness that explains these symptoms)
• An acute respiratory infection e.g. symptoms of cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath
• Loss of smell or alteration in the sense of taste
Call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787, or go to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVID2019; www.covid-19.SA.gov.au for more information.
