Coronavirus SA: COVID-19 testing rates falling as new public health alert is issued

The threat may feel low, but only our vigilance keeps it that way. That’s the message from health authorities as figures show tests dropping by thousands.

Thousands fewer South Australians are getting tested for coronavirus, new figures show, prompting an official new plea for an increase in COVID-19 checks.

On the eve of the state recording 1 million tests, latest SA Health data shows a sharp decline in nose and saliva swabs over the past three months in almost every local government area.

The statewide drop triggered a new public health warning as authorities urged people to seek checks for even the mildest of symptoms to ensure restrictions remained relatively relaxed.

Authorities will on Monday take control of the special COVID patient facility at the CBD-based Tom’s Court Hotel as new details of possible death rates based on overseas data emerged.

Deputy chief public health Officer, Dr Emily Kirkpatrick, said testing was vital to give her colleagues confidence there was no mysterious cases of community transmission.

“In recent weeks we have seen a drop in daily testing rates across the whole state,” she told The Advertiser.

“While it may feel like the immediate threat of COVID-19 is low, we must remain vigilant, and testing is the only way we will ensure there are no undetected cases.

“Testing is the key to our continued success. Please keep our testing rate high, so we can feel confident we are top of COVID in SA.”

The Victoria Park COVID-19 testing station in November. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The weekly SA Pathology data, as a percentage of local populations, showed testing rates spiked in late November and early December as authorities scrambled to contain the state’s sixth, and worst outbreak.

The Parafield Cluster sparked the statewide lockdown, left 31 patients ill and triggered new restrictions.

Since then, sharp falls have occurred across Adelaide’s north, Gawler, and surrounding areas, the CBD, Hills, as well as the inner eastern, southern and beachside suburbs.

Noticeable declines were recorded in the Riverland, parts of the Mid North, South East and Yorke Peninsula.

Salisbury Council recorded nearly 10,000 weekly tests in early November, or 7 per cent of its 140,000 residents, compared with about 700 checks in the last week of January.

Shortly after New Year’s Eve almost one in 10 Adelaide City Council residents got tested but that has fallen to just 7.8 per cent.

In Gawler, 1243 people got tested in a week in mid-November, compared to 184 in late January.

Other big falls occurred in Port Adelaide (4.9 per cent to 0.4 per cent) and Playford Council (4.6 per cent to 0.4 per cent).

The weekly SA Pathology data, as a percentage of local populations, showed testing rates spiked in late November and early December as authorities scrambled to contain the state’s sixth, and worst outbreak.

Dr Kirkpatrick said result times were on average 12 hours while testing was easy, free and didn’t need an appointment.

“We all need to continue to work together to protect South Australia from COVID,” she said.

“If you feel even mildly unwell with any symptom, including fever or chills, sore throat, coughing, running nose, fatigue and loss of taste or smell, get a COVID-19 test right away.”

Health Minister Stephen Wade told parliament last week that SA would have recorded 2400 deaths based on UK rates. SA has recorded four deaths.

“It is true to say that when we were mustering that standby army in the first half of last year we feared that they would be facing waves of COVID and a hospital system response that has caused huge distress in our sister countries,” he told the Legislative Council.

“It is really important that we do not for a day become complacent and that while vaccinations were vital it was important to respect keep public health measures such as social distancing, personal hygiene and high rates of testing.

This would ensure SA did not face “the tragic COVID waves that we have seen overseas”.