SA imposes new border rules as Melbourne Covid cluster grows

South Australian authorities are investigating if changes should be made to the local medi-hotel system, after a Covid-19 leak from the Playford Hotel sparked Melbourne’s worsening outbreak.

South Australia’s medi-hotel system could be overhauled if a report into the Playford Hotel leak – which has sparked Melbourne’s latest outbreak – recommends tighter controls.

The Victorian Government on Tuesday announced five new local coronavirus cases – taking its total to nine. They have been linked back to a case who returned to Melbourne after quarantining at Adelaide’s Playford Hotel.

Premier Steven Marshall said a “thorough investigation” into the Playford Hotel leak was “coming to a conclusion” and should be released publicly within 48 hours.

“If there are findings and recommendations to be even tighter within our quarantine arrangements, then we will put them into place straight away,” Mr Marshall said.

“We know this is an insidious disease and we believe we have taken every caution possible.”

Mr Marshall, who opened the Noarlunga vaccine clinic on Tuesday morning, said he was “disappointed” at the news that Melbourne’s outbreak was linked to the Playford Hotel case from earlier this month.

“This just demonstrates how contagious this disease is,” he said.

Deputy chief public health officer Emily Kirkpatrick said a draft report into the Playford Hotel leak had been circulating for feedback and was now awaiting approval.

“It is very important we do make that report public and I would hope within the next 48 hours that we had some findings to be able to put out to the community,” Dr Kirkpatrick said.

“Hotel quarantine is a high risk business that we are involved with and we have to make sure that every report we put out to the community has been verified.”

Premier Steven Marshall at the opening of the Noarlunga vaccination clinic on Tuesday. Picture: Emily Jarvis

The Playford Hotel, which has been linked to the current Melbourne Covid-19 outbreak. Picture: Kelly Barnes

SA Police on Monday night put new restrictions in place for people travelling from Melbourne.

Anyone arriving after 8.25pm who had visited a Tier 1 or 2 Victorian exposure site would be barred from entering the state.

Anyone already in SA who visited the sites during the exposure window is required to get tested and quarantine for 14 days, while anyone who has been in the City of Whittlesea since May 6 must get tested and self-quarantine until they receive their first negative test.

The Cross Border-Associated Direction has been updated in South Australia. For more information please visit: https://t.co/iyaHIQ2qcipic.twitter.com/Q2ZDpXFGtm

— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) May 24, 2021

Victorian acting Premier James Merlino said the first case announced on Tuesday – a man in his 60s – was likely the “missing link”, connecting the fresh outbreak with the Playford Hotel case.

Four more cases – all household contacts of the man – were announced Tuesday afternoon, bringing the cluster total to nine cases.

Mr Merlino said genomic sequencing confirmed all of the Victorian cases were “closely linked” to that case.

“This could be a possible source case but a full investigation and interview process is under way and has to run its course,” Mr Merlino said.

“He was identified as a contact from case number one and was urgently tested, producing the positive result. He is isolating as are his household contacts.”

The cases also prompted the reintroduction of Covid restrictions in Greater Melbourne.

From 6pm on Tuesday, private gatherings in the home will be limited to five visitors a day, while public gatherings will be limited to 30 people.

Everyone aged 12 years and older will also be required to wear face masks indoors.

The four new cases announced on Monday were a man in his 30s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s and a preschool-aged child all from the same family but spread across three households.

Covid-19 testing at the Northern Hospital in Epping has temporarily closed on Tuesday as they have hit capacity. Picture: David Crosling

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said one of the new cases was likely “quite infectious” and Victorians needed to prepare themselves for more positive cases.

“The viral load was likely high and with close contacts becoming positive he’s likely to be quite infectious,” he said.

All new public exposure sites can be found listed on the Victorian Health Department’s website.