Covid-19 SA: Robe exposure sites named as borders stay open, drive-in jabs begin
Lockdowns are off the agenda after state and territory leaders agreed to hold their nerve, as questions persist about the Omicron strain and whether borders will remain open.
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The spread of the Omicron variant will not mean the return of lockdowns after state and territory leaders agreed to hold their nerve as health officials wait for more information on the new virus strain.
After an emergency meeting of national cabinet on Tuesday to discuss Omicron – which was first detected in southern Africa but has since spread around the world, including to Australia – premiers were satisfied with the current response to the emerging variant.
Sources familiar with the meeting said the leaders were “positive” about Australia’s
prospects against Omicron, which is known to be transmissible but has not yet proven to cause severe disease or reduce vaccine efficacy.
It comes as SA Health on Wednesday named a number of sites in Robe as Covid exposure sites.
Premiers agreed a return to lockdowns as a control measure was not warranted, and plans to reopen domestic borders on December 15 for Tasmania and December 17 for Queensland remained on track.
However, The Advertiser understands, SA chief medical officer Professor Nicola Spurrier is cautious of keeping the state’s borders open.
Earlier on Tuesday, Scott Morrison had urged states to make “calm decisions” and “not get spooked” by the Omicron variant.
“What we want to do is for governments not to be surging forward once again into people’s lives, but ensuring that governments are able to step back so Australians can step forward both into Christmas and into the New Year,” the Prime Minister said.
“That is our intention. That is the purpose of the national plan.”
But concerns have emerged about a government decision to abandon a bid to extend the Covid-19 Emergency Response Act despite borders opening to the Delta strain.
The laws, due to expire today after 19 months, support Mr Stevens’ extensive pandemic powers.
But senior government sources said Cabinet advice from a variety of agencies, including SA Health, warned all Covid-related powers could now be legally challenged or “questioned”.
They claimed it was a political decision by Premier Steven Marshall to avoid further Liberal party infighting.
Opposition spokesman Chris Picton said it was “surprising”.
“The last thing most South Australians want is our vital Covid response measures caught up in legal challenges from the anti-vaxxer or other groups,” he said.
Greens MLC Tammy Franks said it was “extraordinary there is no parliamentary plan”.
Mr Marshall told parliament that Cabinet had “formed the opinion that they wouldn’t be necessary” but other legislation had been updated.
“We sought advice. Cabinet considered that advice. I think it would be very unorthodox for the Cabinet to provide their deliberations,” he told MPs.
“There are many powers that we simply do not require any more.”
A state government spokesman said parliament had the opportunity to extend the laws.
Declining to say if he wanted the laws extended, Mr Stevens said his authority under the separate Emergency Management Act, which controls the pandemic response, was unchanged.
“I have provided advice to the Premier and I am not in a position to elaborate on that,” he said.
“Suffice to say that the declaration I made under the Emergency Management Act continues and the authorities under that Act continue as well.
“In essence there will be no change … as to how we are managing the pandemic response at this time.”
An SA Health spokeswoman said it was “confident” the Covid response could still be safely managed.
Boosters available
South Australians can receive their booster Covid-19 jabs from official state government clinics from today.
Anyone aged over 18 who had their second shot six months ago can walk in or book their third dose at any of the government’s clinics.
The state’s first drive-through vaccination facility opened on Tuesday.
The clinic, at SA Produce Markets in Pooraka, is based on similar models in NSW and Victoria.
Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said the third dose was not mandatory but recommended to ensure “protection against this harmful virus is stronger and lasts”.
At the drive-through clinic in Pooraka yesterday was delivery driver Mitch Tezacker, 28, of Mawson Lakes, whose work has a mandatory vaccination policy.
“It was easy and very convenient,” Mr Tezacker said.
“It took five minutes and then a 15-minute wait at the end.”
Bookings are recommended but not essential at the drive-through facility.
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