SA coronavirus updates: Testing expanded in new statewide blitz | Police ease restrictions on trade at wineries and breweries
SA has significantly widened access to coronavirus testing as the state recorded no new infections today. Meanwhile, police have moved to ease trading restrictions on wineries and breweries – follow all the key local developments here.
Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Get the latest national and international updates here
- Rural groups react to Royal Show cancellation
- This story is free for all readers – please consider supporting our journalism with a subscription
Anyone feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms can now be tested for coronavirus over the next fortnight under an official COVID-19 testing “blitz” after South Australia recorded zero new cases.
The State Government announced on Wednesday a significant widening of SA’s world-leading testing regime.
Under new relaxed rules from Thursday, any person showing symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath can be tested.
Meanwhile, SA Police has withdrawn the shutdown direction issued to Adelaide Hills brewery Prancing Pony as part of eased coronavirus restrictions on similar non-essential businesses.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens announced the decision on Wednesday after extensive consultation with SA chief public health officer Dr Nicola Spurrier.
The new direction, which came into effect from 11am on Wednesday, allows wineries, cellar doors, breweries and distilleries to sell alcohol, food or other products on a takeaway basis. It aligns those businesses with hotels, restaurants and cafes.
Scroll down for more on Wednesday’s key local developments.
IN OTHER CORONAVIRUS NEWS
■ PM urges teachers to get back into classrooms
■ Trump suspends funding to World Health Organisation
■ Family mourns SA grandfather who died from COVID-19
VIRUS TESTING BLITZ
SA Health officials hope a significant expansion of virus testing will help identify any unknown cases as authorities now look at how to ease restrictions.
Until now, patients visiting the state’s 54 dedicated virus clinics have been required to meet specific criteria such as travelling or being in close contact with a potential carrier.
From Thursday, any person showing symptoms such as a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath can be tested.
Officials said the criteria expansion will give symptomatic people reassurances they are not infected, while also providing public health clinicians “greater understanding of the prevalence of the virus ... so we are able to plan the next battle in the war against COVID-19”.
Premier Steven Marshall said SA was is in the enviable position of being able to expand the undertake this blitz to both identify the disease early and strengthen community-wide protection.
“We have led the nation in terms of the number of tests undertaken in South Australia, and our testing rate is among the highest in the world,” he said.
“South Australia’s world-class testing regime has been critical in our success in bending the curve and pushing out the peak of COVID-19.”
Latest figures show more than 37,000 tests have occurred in SA.
SA’s chief public health officer, Associate Professor Nicola Spurrier, revealed no new cases had been discovered over the past 24 hours.
Dr Spurrier said the testing blitz will identify unknown cases that may not have been discovered through contact tracing.
“Our experience with the Adelaide Airport cluster and evaluation of similar clusters interstate is that some of the cases we identified had quite mild symptoms,” she said.
“Although our expertise in contact tracing is world-class, we want to ensure that absolutely every case of COVID-19 in South Australia is identified to provide the best protection to individuals, their families, friends and the community.
“Over the next two weeks, any South Australian who has a fever or respiratory symptoms consistent with coronavirus, no matter how mild, is welcome to attend one of our COVID-19 clinics, or their GP, for assessment and testing.
“We have already taken significant steps to minimise the spread of coronavirus locally, and the testing blitz is yet another way of reassuring the community that we are picking up all cases of COVID-19.”
Dr Tom Dodd, clinical services director of SA Pathology, said there is ample stock of testing kits to undertake the two-week blitz.
“Of the more than 34,000 individuals who have been tested, we have had positive test results return in just 1.3 per cent of people,” Dr Dodd said.
POLICE EASE TRADING RESTRICTIONS
Wineries, cellar doors, breweries and distilleries will now be permitted to sell alcohol, food or other products on a takeaway basis.
SA lawyer Karen Stanley told The Advertiser on Tuesday that the now-withdrawn direction to Prancing Pony, forcing its pick-up and takeaway services to be shut down, was “unlawful”.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said SA Police had received correspondence from breweries but was not concerned about any legal action.
He said he believed the directions issued to the breweries were both lawful and appropriate.
“We see this as a slight relaxation of the imposition so that these businesses can continue to trade as they would like to and as much as possible in the current circumstances,” he said.
“It’s a recognition of the fact that so many people did the right thing over the Easter long weekend.
“The decisions taken in relation to these directions, we appreciate the harshness they have on businesses and the community. They’re not made lightly and they’re done with the intent on slowing the spread of the virus.
“There is no determination or decision that would see any other directions relaxed at this point in time but they’re being reviewed regularly.”
Prancing Pony co-owner Corinna Steeb said she was extremely relieved.
“It allows us to generate some income to look ahead into the future and continue employing our people,” she said.
“We had a little happy dance in the car park.
“This was never about anything else other than to be treated equally. I’m so glad that the wineries can have their restrictions lifted as well.”
KORDAMENTHA CONTRACT SUSPENDED
The contract the Central Adelaide Local Health Network and international consultants KordaMentha – aimed at finding efficiencies and cutting costs in SA’s health system – has been suspended.
“The implementation of the State Liberal Government’s financial recovery program for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network through its contract with KordaMentha has been suspended. The Royal Adelaide Hospital, CALHN’s largest hospital, is our COVID-19 hub and the network needs to make its COVID-19 pandemic response its priority at this time,” Health Minister Stephen Wade said on Wednesday.
POLICE COMMISSIONER’S MESSAGE TO SA
By Police Commissioner Grant Stevens:
Our call to the South Australian community to stay home over the Easter long weekend was heard loud and clear. The positive response to these calls is to be applauded.
Thousands of South Australians chose not to travel this Easter. Our holiday destinations were quiet as everyone played a role in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Across metropolitan Adelaide, the Hills and nearby wine districts, people limited their outings and abided by the social distancing principles. Businesses that would normally be servicing day visitors remained closed or operated in a restricted way.
The restrictions put into place over the last month have been aimed at reducing the introduction of cases into South Australia and slowing the spread of the disease.
The need for swift action in response to the outbreak was critical and we have seen the tragic consequences of delay in other jurisdictions.
I acknowledge that all restrictions in place are onerous and are impacting on the community as a whole. These restrictions are being continuously reviewed and updated regularly.
Due to travel restrictions including South Australian border controls, international and interstate arrivals have dwindled. Quarantine requirements for arriving travellers are having a positive impact in reducing the spread of the virus. We have seen very small numbers of new cases over the long weekend and yesterday.
We recognise the responsible attitude of South Australians who clearly understand the need to slow the spread of this disease and are doing their part.
Read the commissioner’s full message.
ROYAL SHOW CANCELLED
Farmers and rural organisations say it is disappointing but understandable the 2020 Royal Adelaide Show has been cancelled.
It is only the fifth time the event has been cancelled in the show’s 181-year history.
The only other times the event has been cancelled was both World Wars, the Victorian Gold Rush of the 1850s and the 1919 Spanish flu pandemic.
Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of SA chief executive John Rothwell said health and safety was the reason behind the decision, especially with the show drawing about half a million people across 10 days.
“The income will be sorely missed this year but our members are resourceful and resilient and will be thinking of ways to overcome this,” SA Country Women’s Association president Roslyn Schumann said.
Read the full story.
ICU NURSE RECOVERING
SA Health has launched a wide scale review into clinicians’ protective equipment after a Royal Adelaide Hospital intensive care unit nurse caught coronavirus, forcing 22 of her colleagues into quarantine.
Her infection has reignited calls for changes to workers’ compensation laws for health staff, and to mobilise casual nurses left without shifts.
She is among two new cases – both aged in their 20s – taking SA’s total to 433, including 253 who have recovered.
Four patients have died. There are 11 people in hospital and four in intensive care, including one in a critical condition.
Read the full story.
MILLIONS OF MASKS ARRIVE IN SA
SA Health has taken delivery of nearly 1.7 million face masks, which will be distributed to hospitals across the state.
Read the full story.