Coronavirus in SA: 257 cases across state, six requiring intensive care as doctors call for elective surgery to be cancelled
Another 22 cases of coronavirus have been diagnosed in SA and the number of patients in intensive care has doubled to six. Almost 200 doctors have called for all non-urgent elective surgery to be cancelled as six country hospital emergency departments are shut down.
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South Australian coronavirus updates for Friday, March 27.
There are now 257 people with coronavirus in SA, six of whom are in intensive care. They are a 46-year-old woman and two men aged 75 and 77.
This coronavirus report is no longer being updated - click here for latest SA updates
The number of patients requiring critical care has doubled since yesterday but the rate of infection has slowed. Another 22 new cases have been identified since Thursday, when 38 new cases were announced.
Nine of the new cases were travellers on the Ruby Princess cruise ship – 53 passengers from that ship have now been diagnosed in SA.
Premier Steven Marshall is urging people to dob in suspected quarantine dodgers to police, who have launched a special squad to enforce containment rules.
Emergency departments at country hospitals are being closed down to minimise the spread of COVID-19 and almost 200 South Australian anaesthetists call for the immediate cancellation of all non-urgent elective surgery.
Follow today’s updates in detail below.
LATEST NUMBERS AND POLICE CRACKDOWN
SA’s chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier has revealed SA’s total of confirmed COVID-19 cases is now 257, six of whom are in intensive care.
A second 10-year-old child has been diagnosed with the virus since Thursday. The ages of those diagnosed so far ranges from 10 to the mid-70s.
Meanwhile, SA Police has formed a squad of officers to check people are abiding by tough quarantine and containment rules.
All Australians returning from overseas from midnight tomorrow will be quarantined in hotels and other accommodation facilities to enforce the 14-day self-isolation period.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has revealed hundreds of individuals already detected at 12 border checkpoints, along with thousands of South Australians who have arrived by air, have been ordered to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“We are checking. People should expect that there may be a knock on the front door from a police officer,” he said.
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COUNTRY HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS CLOSED
The emergency departments in at least six country hospitals are closing because the State Government believes it will reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection passing on to aged care facilities attached to the centres.
Emergency departments at the Gumeracha District Soldiers Memorial Hospital as well as at Strathalbyn, Kapunda, Eudunda and Mount Pleasant were closed down at midnight on Thursday. The emergency department at the Penola War Memorial Hospital will close on Monday. SA Health said it was possible further closures would occur at more regional hospitals.
Rural Doctors Association SA president Peter Rischbieth said he believed a solution could have been found that would have kept the emergency departments open and was disappointed in the lack of consultation. He said many patients would now face much longer journeys before they could receive treatment.
SA Health said patients would be diverted to Gawler, Tanunda, Angaston, Modbury and Mount Barker.
‘CANCEL ALL NON-URGENT ELECTIVE SURGERY’
Almost 200 South Australian anaesthetists want the immediate cancellation of all non-urgent elective surgery amid “grave concerns” about a shortage of resources to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
One senior clinician said some doctors are already boycotting non-urgent surgeries, in a bid to protect themselves from potential infection, hospitals are rationing protective equipment and that the community must realise “potentially thousands” of lives will be lost due to the spread of the disease.
Anaesthetists, represented by the heads of six anaesthetic clinics working across private and public hospital in SA, say cancelling non-critical surgery will slow the spread of COVID-19 and conserve the “critical supply” of resources including protective equipment.
“Critically, the cancellation of these procedures will help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 to healthcare workers who will play an essential role in the weeks ahead,” they write in a letter sent on Thursday to SA Health Minister Stephen Wade.
“We strongly urge the SA Department of Health to provide clear direction on the types of surgeries that should proceed during the current crisis.”
TAB CLOSURES HIT PUNTERS
Suburban TAB outlets have been closed across SA, Queensland and the Northern Territory because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The outlets were the last place punters without online betting accounts could place wagers on thoroughbred, harness racing and greyhound racing within Australia and overseas.
Racing is continuing without crowds at most venues while other sporting competitions popular with gamblers such as the AFL, NRL and NBA have been suspended.
The suburban TAB outlets have been heavily patronised during the week following the closure last Monday of hotels, licensed clubs and casinos by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“TAB agencies in licensed venues have been closed since the beginning of the week as a result of the restrictions announced by the federal government,” the company said.
“Our contact centres remain fully operational for phone betting and customer support queries.”
– Colin James
BREAST SCREENING SUSPENDED
BreastScreen SA has suspended its breast cancer screening program for three months due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
BreastScreen SA general manager Niamh Wade said the closure will affect all seven metropolitan screening clinics, three mobile screening units, and its dedicated assessment clinic.
“This was a difficult decision, but it was made to protect the immediate health and wellbeing of BreastScreen SA’s clients and staff. The closure is a precautionary measure,” she said.
SA’S CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER Q&A
Dr Nicola Spurrier held a live video chat with The Advertiser’s Andrew Hough to answer our readers’ questions. Watch it here.
LAWYER ASKED TO LEAVE COURT
An Adelaide lawyer has been asked to leave the District Court building because he had contact with a colleague who has just returned from overseas.
The Advertiser understands the lawyer, who was due to represent a client being sentenced, exited the Sir Samuel Way Building at the order of a judge.
The lawyer was acting under the instructions of a solicitor who had returned to Australia from a South-East Asian country in the past two weeks. It’s understood the duo had face-to-face contact, despite self-isolation rules, and so the lawyer was asked to leave.
The lawyer then acted for his client by phone link with the court as he stood outside in Victoria Square.
– Sean Fewster
SOUTH EAST SCHOOL CLOSED
Kingston Community School has closed after a student was diagnosed with COVID-19.
The Education Department said the school would be closed for a minimum 24 hours from Friday.
Health officials are carrying out contact tracing and the Education Department and Health Department will alert anyone who may be required to self-isolate.
DOB IN THE DODGERS HOTLINE LAUNCHED
Premier Steven Marshall says people who believed quarantine rules were being broken should call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, where reports can be anonymous.
“We are sending a strong message to people that if they are doing the wrong thing then they are endangering the lives of fellow South Australians,” Mr Marshall said.
“We want to make it very clear there will be consequences.
“We encourage people who know that people are blatantly disobeying these restrictions to let us know. We will follow it up.”
People who breach quarantines rules face a $20,000 fine, though police are yet to issue any penalties.
However, they are monitoring the state’s borders and requiring people to sign statutory declarations on where they will be.
People who have arrived from anywhere overseas since March 15, or interstate since March 22, must self-isolate for 14 days. That also applies to close contacts of confirmed infection cases.
SA Health Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier revealed a separate 1800 253 787 health hotline.
It will provide local information on the coronavirus, and be open from 8am to 8pm every day of the week.
Dr Spurrier said it was for people with symptoms who wanted help, and those in isolation wanting to understand their responsibilities or advice if they had nowhere to go.
The new cases confirmed on Thursday include people ranging from the age of 10 to those in their mid-70s.
Dr Spurrier was unable to provide specific details of the cases, including where the child went to school, but said the existing protocols for lockdowns and contact tracing would be followed.
Three South Australians are in intensive care units because of coronavirus.
On Thursday, a 50-year-old man joined two other men, aged 68 and 76, who had previously been announced as needing ICU care. They were in stable conditions, according to clinicians.
SA is yet to record a coronavirus death and the sickness is mild for most people.
SA TESTING RATES AMONG HIGHEST IN WORLD
Dr Spurrier said 22,000 coronavirus tests had been conducted in SA, which was the most in the nation per capita and among the highest rates in the world.
“Most of our cases have had international travel, particularly those cruise liners,” she said. “A smaller number have had interstate travel. What is reassuring to me is ... evidence that we haven’t got that sustained community transition.”
She stressed that “young children have very mild symptoms”, which has been the case with an infected baby in SA.
Mr Marshall said he believed most people were doing the right thing in isolation.
“By and large, South Australians are doing a fantastic job in a very, very difficult situation, but we are only as strong as our weakest link,” he said.
“All South Australians must play their part in fighting this disease and saving lives.”
Health Minister Stephen Wade said the Government was moving to secure adequate equipment and extra staff ahead of the expected peak of SA cases.
“The challenge we have in SA in relation to ICU capacity is actually the workers to man those facilities,” he said.