Premier rejects call to reopen SA’s borders, saying we must prevent second wave of COVID-19
The Premier has flatly rejected calls by NSW to open up SA’s borders, saying the only way to relax more restrictions in June is to prevent a second wave of COVID-19.
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Premier Steven Marshall has flatly rejected calls to reopen the state’s borders, saying more freedoms could be relaxed in the next wave of opening up if SA holds the line.
SA Health on Sunday reported another day of no new cases, and zero active cases, as the state continues to be a national and global leader in the bid to eradicate coronavirus.
The State Government is also launching a new testing phase that targets the homeless, in a bid to ensure hidden cases have not gone undetected amid the dramatic and sustained drop in no new known coronavirus cases.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday criticised fellow premiers for keeping their borders shut, saying it was stopping the national economy from firing back up.
“I’ve been quietly having a gibe at all of my state colleagues who have their borders shut. NSW didn’t, Victoria didn’t,” Ms Berejiklian told Sky News.
“We appreciated the key to our economic success will be to improve our supply chains and our manufacturing base among Australia so you do need to get those borders open as soon as possible.”
Asked if he had any interest in such a move on the SA borders, Mr Marshall flatly told The Advertiser: “None”
Health officials remain concerned about a second wave of cases, as is now being seen in places like South Korea, should SA lift restrictions too quickly.
They also believe significant time must pass between the phases of restrictions being lifted to determine the effects of each one on sparking new infections.
The overwhelming majority of SA cases came from international and overseas travellers.
However, Mr Marshall hinted phase two of the state’s opening up could be more aggressive if there were a sustained period of no new cases between now and June 8.
“We don’t want to give up on all the hard-earned gains we have made,” he said.
“We don’t have any intention of opening up our borders at the moment. That may change later in the year.
“We are hopeful that we might be able to get back to a far more ‘normal’ situation with our economy sooner, particularly without new cases coming across our border.”
On June 8, SA is expected to be able to go to the cinema, enjoy seated dining, head to galleries and museums, and start a transition to sport.
Currently, gathering sizes would be limited to 20.
Mr Marshall said: “Continued good performance in terms of new cases opens up far more opportunities for our state, provided we can continue high levels of testing”.
A mobile COVID-19 testing clinic has been established to provide an outreach testing service for homeless in SA.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said it would be based alternately at Baptist Care SA’s Westcare Centre and the Hutt St Centre.
“People who are homeless often disengaged with society and health care, so it is important to take COVID-19 testing to places where they feel comfortable,” he said. “ We need to provide alternatives to testing in hospitals or COVID clinics.
More than 70 tests have already been completed at the Westcare Centre, and so far, all tests have come back negative.