Covid patient ramped at RAH, union claims | 200 students quarantined
An infectious Covid patient was treated outside in the heat, ambos say, as 200 students are sent into quarantine over a positive case at Modbury.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An infectious Covid-19 patient was treated outside in the heat and four have been ramped at the Royal Adelaide Hospital as South Australia charted a second consecutive day of record cases, the ambulance union says.
In a major escalation of the state’s ramping crisis, the patient spent at least 90 minutes in an ambulance waiting to be assessed at the state’s main Covid hospital.
The Ambulance Employees Association (SA), claimed paramedics were forced to treat the patient out in the heat, because it was unsafe to do so in a closed vehicle.
The paramedic union’s general secretary, Leah Watkins, said the system was” under resourced and unprepared”.
More patients are expected.
SA Health has been approached for a response. Officials say that patients can be sent to the RAH for assessment and might not be admitted.
Two men, in their 30s and 60s are already stable in the RAH.
Update: 4 COVID positive patients all ramped for over an hour at the Royal Adelaide Hospital today. Some were expected arrivals. Simply not enough bed capacity in our hospitals. Multiple other non-COVID patients continue to be ramped for hours. Completely unacceptable. #saparli
— Ambulance Employees Association (SA) (@aeasa1981) December 18, 2021
TWO HUNDRED MOVED TO MEDI-HOTEL
Two hundred people living in a student accommodation building in Modbury have been transferred to a medi-hotel after a resident tested positive for Covid.
A spokesperson for SA Health said the occupants were moved “out of an abundance of caution” after it was determined the Torrens Valley International Residence would be unsuitable for high-risk close contacts to quarantine safely, because the building has shared bathrooms and living spaces.
“We will continue to reassess the risk and any changes to quarantine requirements will be communicated directly with those affected, the spokesperson said.
The building is near Modbury Hospital and provides student accommodation for people studying in Adelaide.
INDIAN CHAIN CLOSES AFTER COVID SCARE
An Indian restaurant chain temporarily closed its operations after two workers tested positive for Covid.
On Friday in a Facebook post, Beyond India announced it had temporarily suspended service at all its outlets after two employees at the business’ main production centre at Ferryden Park tested positive.
The business has restaurants in North Adelaide and Modbury.
“The health of our staff and our valued customers is absolutely paramount to us,” the post said.
The business said it had not been contacted by SA Health but had decided to close “out of an abundance of caution” and undertake a deep clean.
“Everyone in our business is now being tested and many have already received negative results.
It said the two Covid-positive workers were “feeling fine”.
A spokersperson said the clean had been conducted and the business re-opened today.
More Coverage
Join the conversation
‘It can be fatal’: Health warning for SA babies as RSV spike climbs
A health alert has been issued to SA parents after a shock spike in RSV cases presenting to emergency rooms – with more than half being young children under the age of 5.
Read more
New emergency ‘threats’ putting SA at risk, landmark inquiry finds
The Covid pandemic, River Murray flood crisis, bushfires and statewide blackout were all declared major emergencies over past 20 years. Now, a major inquiry identifies new threats risking state.
Read more