Warning: More Covid in SA than stats show
Authorities are warning South Australians it’s likely there are far more Covid cases in the state than current statistics reveal, as they plea for people with symptoms to get tested.
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Authorities are pleading with South Australians to get tested for Covid if they have any symptoms, as wastewater data reveals there are likely more cases than current statistics show.
Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said there were unexpected levels of Covid detected in wastewater at Bolivar.
Her alert emerged a day before Cabinet’s emergency management council meets.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday flagged scrapping of a week’s Covid isolation but said health advice was not in this wave.
The EMC has discussed reducing the length of Covid isolation rules in recent weeks but health chiefs also ruled out immediate changes.
A wastewater surveillance team undertook quantitative analysis, which showed higher levels of the virus in comparison to reported cases in the area.
Prof Spurrier said the discovery was made over the weekend.
“The signal strength has always been a little bit lower than our actual case numbers, but it just swapped over,” Prof Spurrier said.
“It makes me concerned that there may be cases that are not being picked up in our community.
“One of the reasons may be that we have had a drop in people reporting their RAT tests or going to get tested.
“I don’t know if it’s related to the reduction in the pandemic payment, but I’m stoked that the payment is being brought back to help everybody.”
It comes as a record number of sick South Australians suffering with Covid are being treated in hospital.
SA Health on Monday reported 306 patients were being treated in the state’s hospitals, the highest number of the pandemic.
This beats the previous highest of 298 cases in hospital recorded on January 21 at the height of the second Omicron wave.
Authorities have previously warned more than 300 Covid hospital admissions is a cause of concern but senior government sources have downplayed any new restrictions such as mask mandates.
Health Minister Chris Picton said the hospital system was under “significant pressure”.
“The latest stats out show that the hospitalisation data … across our system is now the highest that we’ve had since the beginning of the pandemic,” he said.
“This clearly shows the importance of taking every measure possible, getting vaccinated using antivirals or taking preventative measures such as social distancing testing, wearing a mask to make sure that we reduce the pressure on our health services.
“Ultimately, we will be doing everything we possibly can to provide more care.”
Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn said the hospital rate was a “dangerous new milestone and a warning sign that our system is on the brink of collapse”.
“That’s exactly why the government has got to think outside the square and implement immediate actions to ease the pressure – like taking up our call to deploy defence and emergency personnel to support our paramedics.”
There are currently 11 high-risk patients being treated in intensive-care units.
SA Health reported 4053 new cases on Monday, compared with 3358 on Sunday. Two men have died with Covid in the past 24 hours, one in his 70s and one in his 80s.
Modelling predicts the latest wave to peak on Tuesday.
Forecasts show daily cases could hit 6000. Over the past week, cases have fluctuated between 3000 and nearly 4800.
No new mask rules
South Australia’s Covid-19 chiefs are unlikely to impose new restrictions such as mask mandates this week – despite a third Omicron wave peaking.
Cabinet’s emergency management council will on Tuesday receive a “detailed” health briefing that will include updated case modelling, elective surgery proposals and latest on hospital pressures.
But senior government sources say authorities are unlikely to impose new restrictions, such as expanding mask mandates from high-risk locations or public transport.
Elective surgery bans and fresh rules for schools are also not on the cards, despite surging variants.
“It would have to be seriously bad for restrictions to be imposed,” one official said.
“Everybody’s happy to push … ‘people should wear masks’ but there isn’t going to be a mandate.”
New restrictions require a public health emergency or declaration.
National cabinet on Saturday agreed a “uniform consistency” on any future restrictions but there is currently “zero appetite” among Australia’s leaders for any new bans.
SA Health has reintroduced a series of Covid restrictions on staff after a ruling from top public doctor, Professor Nicola Spurrier.
These include compulsory masks in common areas, coverings required in open-plan offices if workers cannot “safely” distance from colleagues, a work-from-home edict “where possible” and virtual meetings.
“Your work remains crucial to helping maintain the system, whatever your role, and we are as susceptible to the workforce impact of Covid as our frontline colleagues,” wrote acting SA Health chief executive Lynne Cowan in a staff memo last week.
“It is also important that we model the behaviour we are asking the community to adapt through the mask campaign that is now underway.”
Sources said the EMC, which acting Premier Susan Close will chair, will not approve a complete elective surgery ban but allow hospitals discretion to manage lists.
The state government has been in confidential talks with a task-force of surgeons to divert surgeries to either private or so-called “peri-urban” hospitals at regional centres near Adelaide while also staggering bookings until after the peak.
Officials warned while some elective surgeries had been delayed with rising Covid hospitalisations, more operations may be postponed.
There will, however, be no halt to private hospital surgery like in January and in 2020.
There are 288 Covid patients in hospital – the highest since January 21 – with 10 in intensive care. Modelling predicts the latest wave to peak on Tuesday.
Forecasts show daily cases could hit 6000.
Over the past week, cases have fluctuated between 3000 and nearly 4800.
Total active cases are at a three-month high while specialised genome testing shows the BA. 5 variant is dominant.
Health Minister Chris Picton said he was “really pleased” with “larger number of people who have been wearing masks”.
He urged people to get their fourth jab.
“We’re facing the pressures of increasing hospitalisations, we’ve seen in the last few days increasing numbers already and we’re expecting that to increase in the next few weeks,” he said.
“We’re taking every measure we possibly can so we can free up as much capacity as we can for Covid patients.”
“That means that we are having to schedule some surgeries later than we would like for less urgent matters to make sure in the short term that our hospitals can provide care for Covid patients.”
Opposition health spokeswoman Ashton Hurn raised concerns over existing hospital pressure before the current peak.
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