SA Covid updates for January 25, 2022: Lowest Covid cases this year, as new patient monitoring launched
The state has recorded five deaths and its lowest number of Covid cases this year, as the Premier announced a new phone monitoring program for infectious South Australians.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Get full digital access to trusted news – including the very latest Covid news, views, Q&As, guides and analysis – from The Advertiser with our great introductory offer.
A new phone monitoring program for South Australians with Covid has been launched, as the Premier announced the state’s lowest number of cases so far this year.
Premier Steven Marshall said a further five South Australians with Covid had died and there were 1869 new cases – down from 2009 on Monday.
“This is the lowest number (of cases) we have had this year,” he said.
There are 287 patients in hospital, including 32 in ICU, five of whom are ventilated.
Mr Marshall said two of the five deaths occurred in the past 24 hours, while the others were from an earlier time and only reported today.
About 500 SA Health staff are furloughed at the moment, including 344 with Covid.
He said 15,000 PCR and RAT tests were administered on Monday.
“There are essentially no lines on the PCR tests at the moment, so if you do have any symptoms we ask that you go down and get yourself a PCR test.
“There are (also) thousands and thousands of appointments at vaccination clinics going to waste … Tomorrow is a public holiday and Wayville will be open for walk-ins.
“Wayville can do 4000 (vaccinations) a day and only 1000 are booked in.”
Mr Marshall said chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier was meeting with the Australian Education Union this afternoon about the government’s return-to-school plan.
“We don’t support the teachers strike and we are going to be doing everything we can to avert that strike.”
He also foreshadowed a support and stimulus package for businesses, with more details expected by Saturday.
Mr Marshall said there were about 30,000 active cases across the state, as he announced a new phone monitoring program would call infectious people twice daily.
The $2.3 million Wellbeing SA program will monitor a vulnerable patient’s medical signs and mental health as well as their access to food, medication and other services.
After assessing if a person is more at risk of becoming unwell in their isolation period or may be more vulnerable, officials can admit patients to the My Home Hospital program for virus cases.
Mr Marshall said research showed at least 95 per cent of patients could recover safely at home from Covid.
“This new phone monitoring program will assist those people who require a bit more support at home while doing the right thing and isolating to protect the health of other South Australians,” he said.
Wellbeing SA Chief Executive, Lyn Dean, said staff would undertake a detailed health assessment.
Those that are deemed to have clinical concerns that cannot be managed in their home or require urgent medical review will be “escalated back to the Covid Response Care Team for management and closer monitoring”.
REPLAY TODAY’S BRIEFING
READ MORE
■ Crucial second meeting as teachers strike looms
■ How SA handled Covid: The verdict
■ 41k Covid cases in Australia, 69 deaths as outbreak hits Navy ship
■ 89yo Covid victim’s yard trashed in violent brawl
MONDAY, JANUARY 24 UPDATE
New Covid numbers have dropped slightly to 2009 from 2062 cases on Sunday, with two deaths, Premier Steven Marshall announced on Monday.
Of those results, 1465 came from PCR tests and 540 from RAT tests. The two deaths were a woman in her 40s, who will be referred to the Coroner, and a man in his 70s who was in a residential aged care facility.
There are now 294 people in hospital – a slight increase on Sunday’s figure of 278. Of those, 29 are in ICU – up from 24 on Sunday – and six are ventilated, as they were on Sunday.
A total of 9756 PCR tests were carried out, while 13,761 RAT tests were handed out.
In good news on the vaccine front, Mr Marshall said Novavax had been approved by ATAGI and should be available in SA from February 21.
There also has been a continued declined in the number of SA Health staff who have been affected by Covid, with 356 testing positive and 522 staff furloughed in total.
Mr Marshall again said he thought SA had reached its peak.
“I think we are at that peak, or near it, but that depends on people returning to work and the staged return to school,” Mr Marshall said.
“RAT tests can give people a false sense of security, which is why we are not recommending students take weekly RAT tests, unlike in NSW and Victoria.”
He admitted restrictions were taking their toll. “Clearly the restrictions are causing great stress on individuals and families. We don’t want to have them any longer than necessary.”
But he said South Australia was on a “very good trajectory”. “I genuinely feel that South Australia is heading in the right direction.”
He said the state had the lowest unemployment rate in the history of the state.
“It won’t stay there, given what has happened in the past couple of weeks, but we want to get back to that.”
Again he called on South Australians not to be complacent. “Please get tested if you have any symptoms and please go and have the vaccination.”
Fifty per cent of the eligible population has now had their Covid booster shot.
REPLAY MONDAY’S BRIEFING
SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 UPDATE
South Australia recorded 2062 Covid cases on Sunday, the lowest number since late December last year, in a sign the state could be past the worst of the Omicron outbreak.
The number of cases reported on Sunday is the lowest since December 30, when 1374 cases were recorded.
Premier Steven Marshall gave the update as he announced more funding for surf life saving, declaring we could be past the state’s Omicron outbreak.
Mr Marshall said the number of people who tested positive was the lowest number in a “very, very long time”.
“This is fantastic news and more proof that we are at, about, or maybe even slightly past, the peak in South Australia.”
Mr Marshall also said the number of people in hospital with Covid had “stabilised”.
He said there were 278 people in hospital with Covid, below the five-day average.
The number of Covid cases in ICU on Sunday dropped to 24 from 37 the day before. Six people are on ventilators.
“The statistics we’ve got today are very positive, but we can’t be complacent here in South Australia,” Mr Marshall said.
“My strong message to every single person in the state is to make sure that you and your family are all vaccinated.
“There are still thousands and thousands and thousands of appointments going begging in South Australia at the moment.”
Mr Marshall said the “numbers in ICU are massively over represented by those people who are not fully vaccinated”.
The Premier revealed the number of SA Health staff testing positive to Covid or being furloughed had “significantly decreased” to 596.
“If we go back a week it was up closer to 1000, so we are starting to see the pressure with regards to staff ability ease,” Mr Marshall said.
REPLAY SUNDAY’S BRIEFING
13yo’s body started to shut down after ‘wanting to get fit’
It all started as an innocent attempt to get healthier but it took three months for Katya to almost die from anorexia nervosa at just 13 years old.
Read more
‘My son’s death was blasted on social media’
Ryan Kimball died in a car crash – and his last moments were posted on social media. Now, the teen’s heartbroken dad reveals how Covid lockdowns played a role in the tragedy.
Read more