RAH nurse tests positive to COVID-19 as millions of protective masks arrive in SA and Royal Adelaide Show is cancelled
Millions more medical masks have been unboxed in SA, but health authorities will review the equipment after a Royal Adelaide Hospital nurse became infected despite taking all recommended precautions.
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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.
The nurse was working with COVID-19 patients and is now in isolation at her home.
She started experiencing minor symptoms late on Friday at the end of her shift. She self-isolated then was tested on Sunday and received the positive result late on Monday.
So far, 23 close contacts have been advised to self-isolate, including 22 RAH staff, while an investigation by the Communicable Disease Control Branch continues. Six ICU nurses will be quarantined in hotels.
SA Health officials say there is not expected to be any impact to patient care.
Chief Public Health Officer Associate Professor Nicola Spurrier said she was “quite sure patients at the RAH have not been put at any risk”.
“She (the nurse) absolutely understands the symptoms, she did absolutely the right thing and got tested … and was isolating herself straight away,” she said. Dr Spurrier said a review would occur and she was looking at expanding testing criteria. “We have an extremely talented and very well trained team,” she said.
“When you are … providing medical treatment to patients, and you are having quite complex PPE (personal protective equipment) … it is really complicated.”
Central Adelaide Local Health Network’s executive director of nursing Rebecca Badcock said the nurse was in good spirits.
The infection comes as SA Health takes delivery of almost 1.7 million face masks, to be distributed to hospitals.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Elizabeth Dabars said the overseas experience showed members of the health workforce were at greater risk of contracting the virus due to their higher levels of exposure.
“The State Government must step up, as a matter of urgency, by changing the SA workers’ compensation laws to ensure the health workforce is automatically protected and supported in the event they contract COVID-19,” she said.
Associate Professor Dabars also called on the Government to mobilise the “several hundred” casual nurses who had lost work after elective surgeries in the private sector were cancelled.
Premier Steven Marshall said the nurse was covered by WorkCover and that of 36 healthcare workers diagnosed with the disease, she was the first who contracted it at hospital. “Changing the legislation would cause more problems than it would solve,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Commonwealth-funded respiratory clinic has opened at Parkside to check patients experiencing mild to moderate respiratory symptoms.
The families of the four Adelaide grandparents who lost their battles against the virus in the RAH ICU each paid tribute to the staff.
Sandi Todd, 74, the widow of Riverland man Malcolm “Mal” Todd, 76, of Barmera, said ICU staff went above and beyond to allow her to video call with her husband before he died last Wednesday.
Doctors would also phone her twice a day as she was in isolation after the pair contracted the virus during a Barossa Valley visit last month.
“When we could speak with him, he was in an induced coma, but one of the nurses who was so lovely, was there stroking his arm,” she said. “I was so pleased he had human contact before he died.”
Show cancelled
The Royal Adelaide Show has been cancelled for only the fifth time in the event’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 the show drawing about half a million people across 10 days.
Mr Rothwell said letting exhibitors know early was another factor.
“The lead time for exhibitors can be many months and we would have been only 140 days out from the first day of the show,” he said.
Mr Rothwell did not rule out holding some section judging this year but without the public.
The show first formed in January 1844 to exhibit, promote, debate and nurture rural production in SA and has since expanded to include rides, sideshow, showbags and exhibitions.
Premier Steven Marshall said he had visited the show’s organisers on the weekend and felt they had made the right decision but a very tough one.
“In this case they had no alternative,” he said, adding that it was unlikely there would be a lifting of restrictions in time.
In other major developments today:
■ Scott Morrison slams WHO for supporting reopening of wet markets
■ Union accuses Qantas of exposing workers to virus at Adelaide Airport
■ ‘Unbelievably sick’: Pink’s intense virus battle
VICTIMS’ FAMILIES REFLECT ON LOSS
The families of two Ruby Princess passengers who died after contracting coronavirus urged people to heed restrictions as they paid tribute to the loving grandparents.
Grandmother of four Linda Lavender, 62, last week became the state’s first COVID-19 death linked to the ill-fated cruise ship after losing her five-day fight for life in the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s intensive care unit.
Also on the stricken voyage around New Zealand last month was northeastern suburbs grandfather of four Roger Leaney, 74, of Valley View.
Their families paid separate, emotional tributes to the pair as they all urged South Australians to heed government advice and restrictions while also publicly thanking the RAH’s ICU medical team of “angels”.
READ THEIR FULL STATEMENT HERE
MOST COMPLIANT WITH EASTER ISOLATION, SOME FINED
The Easter break behaviour of South Australians was praised by police, regional mayors and the Premier as tourist hot spots resembled ghost towns.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens described the levels of social-distancing compliance as “exceptional”.
“It has been refreshing to see so many people complying with these obligations,” he said. “We understand and appreciate the strict nature of these obligations. I think it is abundantly clear why we are doing it.”
Only 10 people were fined $1000 and seven cautioned over the long weekend.
More than 630 people crossed the state border over the Easter break – half of which were deemed essential travel and the rest ordered into quarantine.
Premier Steven Marshall said the strong character of South Australians “really came to the fore”.
“South Australians stuck to the plan without needing the heavy-handed enforcement needed in other states,” he said.
