Man from Argentina had one jab and did full quarantine, but still tested positive for Covid after reaching SA

The man from Argentina whose Covid test triggered harsh new restrictions had been given one jab and did his full quarantine. Here is how the Modbury cluster unfolded.

The elderly man whose Covid-positive test triggered harsh statewide restrictions spent most of this year trying to travel from South America to reunite with family in South Australia.

His daughter, aged in her 50s, had spent the past four months in Argentina trying to bring her ill father back to her north-east Adelaide home after being granted a compassionate travel exemption.

The grandfather, from Buenos Aires, has a pre-existing medical condition. The family has asked not to be identified.

His teacher grandson, aged in his 30s, told how his mother flew to the Argentine capital, her hometown, to help her “unwell” father travel.

“He had to be brought back,” he said from his suburban home where he was isolating after being identified as one of 16 close contacts.

The grandfather is from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and flew into Adelaide to be with family on July 8. Picture: iStock

Another close relative, aged in his 50s who works for Tea Tree Gully Council, is also ill.

The daughter described to friends and family her nightmare mission to repatriate her elderly father to Australia.

The South Australian businesswoman detailed their route to Adelaide from Argentina, via Europe and Dubai, after multiple delays.

She told of struggles including red tape and flight delays.

Online pictures showed her father’s joy when he received his first, and so far only, Covid vaccine shot at a local soccer club in Argentina. What he received is unclear. His daughter told friends of her delight to have arrived safely with her father in Sydney on June 24.

The pair immediately began 14 days of quarantine in a Sydney medi-hotel.

During quarantine, the father suffered a fall and spent 10 days in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital under quarantine.

The pair arrived in SA on Thursday July 8. Under federal law, international travellers have no internal travel restrictions after serving quarantine in their port of arrival.

They visited various locations, possibly together, across Adelaide’s north east.

On Sunday the elderly man developed respiratory symptoms and went to Modbury Hospital. A test returned a positive result at 2.30am on Monday, triggering a health emergency now linked to more cases known as the “Modbury cluster”.

At least five people, including the grandson, have returned a negative result.

Elizabeth Vale Primary School, where the son works, was locked down for the first day of term three as a precaution but will reopen on Tuesday.

The daughter’s boss said she spent the past five months on personal leave trying to get her father home and was due back at work in a fortnight.

He said his office, a well-known Adelaide business, was at this stage unaffected.

“We are all on eggshells but we’re just hoping everyone is all right,” he said.