Coronavirus: New surveillance expanded to help thwart any new COVID-19 waves

Coronavirus testing surveillance has been expanded as authorities try to thwart any new wave of COVID-19.

Coronavirus testing surveillance has been expanded as authorities try to thwart any new wave of COVID-19.

The State Government is increasing virus checks and tests on the state’s wastewater, medi-hotel staff and Adelaide Airport workforce.

The details emerged as a new political row erupted after it was revealed daily tests on medi-hotel staff would not begin until Monday – a month after national Cabinet sign-off.

By the end of the month, airport staff who process international arrivals will also undergo daily saliva tests.

The Federal Government is planning to start coronavirus vaccinations in late March for Australians over 70, and two million people with underlying conditionsand disabilities.

Phase 2 of the rollout, for 6.1 million people, will begin once supplies of the AstraZeneca vaccine are available.

The first phase, this month, will cover 700,000 people including aged-care residents and front-line healthcare staff.

SA Health’s Principal Water Quality Adviser Dr David Cunliffe with the new wastewater testing "submarines".

Meanwhile, SA Health and SA Water are testing submarine devices, designed by Monash University, on Adel­aide’s sewage. Sleuths have searched wastewater across the state to find virus traces.

Samples are currently manually collected but the new technology allows 24-hour submersion in untreated sewage.

Three 20 cm-long single-use vessels can be 3D-printed every day.

The trial, using six machines, had four positive results, two of which were later negative in other tests, suggesting the technology was more sensitive.

Since January 1, SA Health has identified seven positive waste samples in Adelaide.

Its principal water quality adviser, Dr David Cunliffe said the new machines provided better data.