Half-way there but miner airport case sparks new Adelaide scare

The state’s vaccination target is inching closer but authorities have named several exposure sites linked to a new case that passed through Adelaide. See them here.

South Australia is halfway towards its 80 per cent vaccination target and accelerating the rollout with hopes of ending lockdowns by Christmas — but a miner who tested positive has soured the celebrations.

The essential worker in his 20s flew from Sydney on Friday then tested positive while in quarantine, sparking contact tracing of people he may have come into contact with on the flight or at the airport.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said the case “shows the system is working” as the man had not been in the wider community.

She forecast a surge in the vaccination rate as Pfizer becomes available to people over 60 from Monday — as well as children aged 12-16 — ending hesitancy among those reluctant for an AstraZeneca shot.

“This is an exciting day — it took a while to get to the halfway mark but it will really explode now,” Prof Spurrier said.

“While we can celebrate this milestone today it will really increase from here on in.”

Premier Steven Marshall hailed the halfway mark as a milestone towards the national target where restrictions are wound back.

He said an extra 60,000 appointments will be available at SA Health vaccination hubs from Monday.

“This is a great day for South Australia,” he said

“We now have more than 40 per cent of the adult population in South Australia with double vaccination, I think we’re heading towards 60 per cent hopefully very soon who have had their first shot, and that is absolutely fantastic protection.

“The more we become vaccinated, the more protected we become, and that of course means that state lockdowns and state lockouts can become a thing of the past by the time we get to Christmas this year.”

He said it would be “on for young and old as of Monday” as the age eligibility for Pfizer is widened, millions more doses arrive and more appointments become available.

Professor Nicola Spurrier said the progress showed the system was working. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The miner flew from Sydney on Virgin flight VA406 at 9.20am on Friday, was swabbed at 9.50am, and went into two weeks quarantine at the airport’s Atura Hotel.

His test came back positive late on Friday and contact tracers immediately began sending SMS messages to people on the flight manifest and who had used QR codes at the airport. They are also checking airport CCTV footage.

People on the flight, or who used the male toilet under the escalator 9.40am-10.10am, or were at the swab test site 9.45am-10.20am must quarantine for 14 days and get tested.

If at the airport 9.20am-10.15am, or the Atura Hotel lobby 9.30am-10.30am isolate and get tested.

SA officials are closely monitoring Queensland where five cases have emerged and may revise the open border rules.