Covid cases in SA set to hit up to 10,000 a day in April

“I don’t want to chair a meeting that doesn’t have the power to make decisions,” new Premier Peter Malinauskas declares, as new modelling shows cases are set to reach up to 10,000 a day in April.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced sweeping changes to how his government will manage Covid, as new modelling shows case numbers will hit up 10,000 a day next month.

Mr Malinauskas will immediately abolish the Covid-ready committee and replace it with Emergency Management Council, which will be a sub-committee of Cabinet.

“I don’t want to chair a meeting that doesn’t have the power to make decisions. Hence that policy change.”

Mr Malinauskas said an urgent plan to boost hospital capacity would be launched amid fears daily case numbers could exceed those seen in January with similar levels of hospitalisations.

The University of Adelaide modelling shows case numbers could hit up to 10,000 a day in early April at the peak of this wave, with adult hospitalisations of more than 200.

The new government has released modelling that shows Covid cases in SA could top 10,000/day in the coming weeks. https://t.co/[e-mail]/2ywmgsefKG

— Kathryn Bermingham (@KatBermingham) March 22, 2022

Mr Malinauskas said he was stunned to learn on Monday that all non-urgent elective surgery in public hospitals had been banned by the Marshall Government a day before the state election.

“If you want to know why we have different isolation requirements in SA, that has been an informing factor,” he said.

“Make no mistake, our hospital system is under strain.

“Things are so bad that the elective surgeries that were put back on have been cancelled again.

“(And) case numbers are set to escalate in a significant way.

“I have directed SA Health to rapidly prepare a plan for urgent additional hospital preparedness for a rise in Covid cases.”

In other changes:

■ Crown lawyers will develop new laws to replace the Emergency Management Act, which he wants to end by June 30 at the latest;

■ A new campaign will be launched to encourage South Australians to get their booster dose after rates remained stagnant for the past few weeks at 69 per cent; and

■ Chris Picton was formally announced as health minister under the new Labor government, to be sworn in on Thursday.

Mr Malinauskas has asked SA Health to expedite national guidelines, particularly for isolation and quarantine, as he said there would be more announcements to come on Friday regarding restrictions.

“National consistency should be something we all gravitate towards,” he said.

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Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier announced four people with Covid had died overnight – a man in his 50s, a man in his 60s and a man and woman in their 80s.

There were 3686 new cases announced on Tuesday, with 165 in hospital, 11 in ICU and two people ventilated.

“Those are the figures were are looking at,” she said.

“Our hospitals are under a lot of pressure and we need to make sure we can deal with those admissions.”

Professor Spurrier said she was pleased to share the modelling data publicly today.

“If people can understand what’s going on, then they can understand why we’ve got certain restrictions in place.”

She said the new Omicron variant, which now makes up 70 per cent of cases in SA, was more transmissible, but “at this point in time there’s no evidence that it’s more severe.”

She said health officials would be keeping a close eye on the new strain before recommending the removal of any quarantine restrictions.

“When you’re making those kinds of decisions, it's better not to do it when the wave is going up … it’s better to do it when the wave is going down.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas at his first Covid media briefing. Picture: 7 NEWS

She said 30 per cent of people eligible for that third dose have not gone and got it and urged them to do so.

“Many of South Australians will know people who have had Omicron that have had more mild symptoms … but we all know there a more susceptible people in our community that have chronic health issues or that may be older and it’s absolutely critical for the modelling for those people to have had a third dose.”

Business SA director of policy and advocacy Kendall Crowe said they had hoped restrictions would be eased today, but were pleased Mr Malinauskas was looking to move to a nationally-consistent approach.

“While we had hoped that there would be changes announced today, we are pleased that Premier Malinauskas prioritised this,” she said.

“Many businesses are struggling with so many workers in quarantine under the close contact rules. Not all workers in quarantine can work from home either, particularly in manufacturing, hospitality or in our supermarkets.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas meets with Professor Nicola Spurrier and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on Monday. Picture: Andrew Hough

Mr Malinauskas on Monday met with the state’s Covid authorities for a briefing on all aspects of South Australia’s pandemic response as well as the current rules on masks, close contact isolation and quarantine.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens briefed Mr Malinauskas on how the Emergency Management Act was operating two years after he imposed the major declaration.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier also gave advice on close contact rules and mask use, which she is understood to be in favour of keeping.