Sharp spike in SA Covid cases of 2089 on Tuesday, but Covid hospitalisations drop

SA’s Covid cases jumped by 500 to more than 2000 on Tuesday – but the number of people in hospital with the virus has decreased.

South Australia has recorded a sharp new spike in Covid cases but a falling number of patients in hospital, as authorities consider new restrictions to ease this week.

After several days of falling numbers, SA Health on Tuesday reported more than 2000 cases, which was 512 higher than Monday’s total.

The 2089 new infections was the highest number since last Thursday. A data check found 289 extra cases.

But the number of patients in hospital – the key indicator authorities are closely monitoring – fell below triple figures for the first time since the new year.

On Tuesday, 97 Covid patients were recovering in hospital after nine people were discharged in the past 24 hours.

The number of intensive care patients also fell by two to 13 patients, two of whom are in induced comas on a ventilator.

There were no deaths reported while one recorded fatality has been removed from SA Heath’s total.

The number of schoolchildren absent for Covid-related issues is stable.

It comes after Monday’s figures showed almost two dozen extra Covid-19 patients died since the new year including a woman in her 30s.

In the state’s deadliest day of data, SA Health on Monday formally recorded an additional 23 positive patients as having died in the past two months between New Year’s Eve and last Thursday.

The state’s death toll is now 213 patients but no deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.

The latest patients to die include a woman aged in her 30s, another in her 70s, four in their 80s, eight women in their 90s and a lady older than 100.

Of the male fatalities were a man aged in his 70s, five in their 80s and two in their 90s.

The latest monthly Births, Deaths and Marriages data includes infectious patients who died at home or another location outside of a hospital or an aged care facility but which are not immediately reported to SA Health.

The previous biggest daily death toll was 13 patients, which was recorded on Australia Day and January 27 at the tailend of the Omicron wave.

While SA Health on Monday also reported 111 fewer cases in the past 24 hours to 1,577 infections, a further three patients were admitted to hospital and the same number admitted to intensive care.

South Australia has recorded 23 Covid deaths since December 31. Picture: AFP

On Monday night, 106 people were recovering in hospital along with 15 ICU patients, two of whom are in induced comas on a ventilator.

The Covid Ready Committee on Monday delayed its meetings to debate the fourth tranche of restrictions until later this week, Premier Steven Marshall revealed.

He raised hopes of another easing of restrictions later in the week.

But senior government sources say the committee is concerned a spike in hospitalisation may occur later this week or early next week after a lag from the recent spike in case numbers.

New Education Department data also shows the number of school students absent for Covid-related reasons has also increased.

There are now more than 4150 pupils off for either being infectious or a close contact, which is dozens more than Friday.