SA braces for more Covid cases with new care centre as international student plan bites the dust

As SA braces for a surge in Covid virus cases, a new care centre is one of several hubs being developed – along with an app – as international student plans change yet again.

A $5.5m Covid-19 care centre has been created to tackle an expected surge in virus cases and to lessen the load on the state’s hospital emergency departments.

Premier Steven Marshall said the rapid assessment and treatment centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital would be the first of several hubs.

“These Covid-19 care centres will play a key role in regional and metropolitan areas to assess and treat patients closer to home,” Mr Marshall said.

“As we’ve announced our map to lifting border restrictions as we head to an 80 per cent fully vaccinated population, we’re rolling out all of the necessary steps to make sure we’re 100 per cent ready.”

Mr Marshall said SA Health anticipated the vast majority of people who contracted Covid-19 would be cared for at home, using the home quarantine app.

“This will probably account for approximately 85 per cent of all people with the disease, which is in line with other jurisdictions across Australia,” he said.

It was estimated that 50 people a day would access the Covid-19 care centres across SA, with patients needing to be Covid-19 positive to get a referral.

The government also has announced a number of supervised care facilities would be established to provide supported care for those who were unable to safely isolate.

Deputy chief public health officer Dr Emily Kirkpatrick said, “We expect 15 per cent of people to require medical care in a hospital.”

Meanwhile, the plan to bring in a trial flight of international students to be quarantined in Parafield has been cancelled.

Instead, South Australia’s universities will wait until the borders are open for fully vaccinated international arrivals.

Under the state’s Covid-19 roadmap, international arrivals will no longer need to quarantine once the 90 per cent vaccination threshold is reached – expected around Christmas.

Chairman of the South Australian vice-chancellors’ committee Colin Stirling said the roadmap had provided much-needed clarity.

“The plan to develop a dedicated quarantine facility at Parafield for returning international students was devised before vaccines were available,” Professor Stirling said.

“With borders now expected to be open before the end of the year, it was no longer necessary.”