Some COVID-19 restrictions will ease from Monday, Premier says, as SA hits 13 days without a new case
Restrictions on funerals and regional travel are set to be eased from as early as Monday, the Premier says, as SA hits 13 days in a row without a new COVID-19 case.
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Some restrictions in SA will be lifted from Monday to begin the return to a “COVID-safe environment”, Premier Steven Marshall says, as the state records its 13th day in a row with zero COVID-19 cases.
Just five cases remain in SA with another person recovering since Monday.
The Premier said the aim was “to get people back to work as quickly and as safely as possible”.
Earlier today, The Advertiser revealed the State Government’s priorities areas for lifting lockdown restrictions in SA.
In SA, 429 people have recovered, and there are just two in hospital. There are no ICU cases.
SA has performed 62,000 tests since February, with 800 yesterday.
Funerals and regional travel will be the first two areas where restrictions could be lifted.
Chief health officer Nicola Spurrier said: “we will be increasing the number of people at funerals”.
Mr Marshall said after drought, bushfires and COVID-19, the regions were “doing it tough”.
“We are keen to see restrictions regarding regional tourism released, and this could happen early next week,” he said.
Australians would see “major tranches” in the lifting of restrictions announced on Friday, he said, saying restrictions on property inspections was “something we’re considering at the national cabinet”.
“We’ll see a road map to get people back to employment,” Mr Marshall said.
“SA is in a fantastic position, but we’ve got to do it safely – we’ve had good testing and tracing capabilities and that’s put us in a unique position.
“For example, on schools, we have the highest attendance.”
Flu cases down but fears of vaccine shortage
SA flu cases are down from 10,729 at this time last year, to 1475 now, because of social distancing measures, with Prof Spurrier saying “there are some silver linings to this pandemic”.
Addressing reports of a shortage of over-65s vaccine, she said there was a “problem in distribution between GPs”.
Some GPs have a lot of the vaccine for over 65s, while others don’t have much.
“We are looking at how we can safely redistribute that vaccine,” Prof Spurrier said.
“But it must remain in a fridge and there is a particular way it must be packaged (for redistribution).”
Labor says some older South Australians may miss out on the influenza shot, after a leaked SA Health document suggested almost all of the State Government-issued influenza vaccines for people aged over 65 had been distributed just weeks before the flu season officially starts.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said there were some “localised shortages” among some GP clinics.
While the government has consistently rejected claims there was a vaccine shortage, the Opposition claimed some were not be able to get access to the free ‘Quad’ vaccine.
The Communicable Disease Control Branch memo, dated last Tuesday and distributed to general practitioner doctors, states 93 per cent of specifically formulated flu vaccines have been distributed.
In the memo, GPs are encouraged to “carefully estimate” their vaccine requirements for the remainder of the season to “ensure minimal wastage and assist adequate and equitable distribution across all providers in South Australia”.
It prompted Opposition fears of a vaccine shortage for the over 65s cohort, who may have to resort to paying for privately-distributed vaccines.
“The majority of vaccines for at risk groups have now been distributed to immunisation providers,” states the memo, a copy of which was obtained by Labor.
“Once 100 per cent of all cohort stock has been distributed, some patients may have to source funded stock from alternative immunisation providers if they are unable to access from their usual provider. Enough funded vaccine is available for all those eligible under funded programs.
It adds: “Distribution to date in 2020 continues to be higher than for the same period in 2019 and 2018. The comparatively lower volume of doses distributed in 2019 was due to vaccines for some cohorts not being wholly available for distribution at that same time.”
Figures show there have been 1475 flu cases so far this year compared with almost 28,000 over the same period last year.
Opposition health spokesman Chris Picton said the details were concerning.
“This memo reveals the State Government will soon run out of the specifically formulated flu vaccine for over-65s,” he said.
“Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Marshall Liberal Government must be able to ensure our state’s most vulnerable will be able to access a flu vaccine.”
An SA Health spokeswoman said authorities had “distributed enough influenza vaccine to immunise everyone aged 65 years and over in South Australia”.
But she added: “We are working with GPs to help manage their individual stock levels.
“And this may involve redistribution of stock if this can be safely done. Where this isn’t possible, an alternative flu vaccine will be provided.”
Playford Hotel evacuees released
More than 300 Australians staying at the Playford Hotel on North Tce were released from mandatory quarantine this morning.
On Monday, more than 300 Australians who underwent 14-days of quarantine at the Pullman Hotel headed home.
Among them was Brisbane man Floyd Godinho, 55, who was stuck in Mumbai for two months after what was meant to be just a 10-day visit.
He eventually boarded a mercy flight and landed in Adelaide on March 21.
His 14-day quarantine came to an end at 8am today.
Mr Godinho, a father of three, said he couldn’t sleep the night before leaving Mumbai.
“I was so nervous because I heard (bad) stories of people being put in quarantine,” he told The Advertiser.
“Once we reached the hotel I saw there was a window that I could open.
“The food was good and I started feeling much better.
“They really took care of us, not just the staff, but even the police came and checked on us.”
He will leave for his hometown of Brisbane tomorrow afternoon, where he will finally reunite with his family.
“Thanks to all my friends, my wife, my sisters, they all kept talking to me on FaceTime.
“In this crisis, everyone has come together. I am glad I am in Australia,” he said.
Playford Hotel general manager Maurits De Graeff said his staff created a Facebook group and even a television channel used to communicate with all 308 guests directly.
“We had almost four hours per day on yoga, fitness and Zumba classes,” he said.
“I think we all enjoyed it a lot to have all these people here, it was quite an experience.”
Celebrate Mother’s Day – but be careful
Families can celebrate Mother’s Day in person if they keep social distancing in groups fewer than 10 people, the state’s top public health doctor said on Monday after another day of zero new cases.
Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier implored people to use common sense when meeting this weekend as she announced South Australia’s total number of coronavirus patients has remained at 438 for 12 days.
As she said restrictions would be lifted in the “most sensible way we can”, she gave her blessing for family gatherings on Sunday but urged social distancing and groups of no more than 10 people.
“If there are vulnerable people in your family, however, and that might be an elderly person, it is probably better to continue that social distancing,” Prof Spurrier said.
“However, you may have a very robust and healthy grandparent, or mother, who is absolutely fine to be visited but you need to make those informed decisions on your own particular situation.
“You might want to phone up mum and ask, you know, would you like us to visit or are you feeling comfortable about that?” She said a video call might be more suitable but added “sending a bunch of flowers” was also important.
“South Australians have had so much common sense … and I don’t think people are going to have any problems this weekend working out what is going to be best for them and their loved ones,” she said. While 98 per cent of patients are recovered, she said there were still seven Adelaide active COVID-19 cases, three of whom are being cared for at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Detailed heat maps published
More detailed heat maps were published yesterday showing two patients each live in the West Torrens Council, in the western suburbs and another two within Burnside Council, in Adelaide’s east.
A further two northern suburbs cases are located in Salisbury council area.
The last contagious patient lives in the northeastern suburbs within Campbelltown Council.
Authorities collect data over a 24-period from midnight before the results are revealed each afternoon.
Prof Spurrier said random checks of some cluster-linked patients found antibodies, they had reported such “insignificant” symptoms. But she was not concerned authorities had missed cases.
She said more than 61,000 tests had occurred, but issued a fresh appeal for ill people with “even the mildest of symptoms” to get tested.
FMC upgrade fast-tracked
The State Government today announced the Adelaide-based Cheesman Architects will lead a design team of the fast-tracked $11m Flinders Medical Centre emergency department upgrade.
Part of a wider $45.7 million overhaul, the project is expected to be finished mid next year.
Health Minister Stephen Wade said: “Following a competitive tendering process, we are pleased to announce Cheesman Architects have been appointed as lead architects for the project, with Turner Townsend appointed as cost manager.
“This is part of the State Government’s strong commitment to ease pressure on our emergency departments across the hospital network, providing better health services to the people of South Australia,” Mr Wade said.
Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Chief Operating Officer, David Morris, said the increased FMC capacity will help “doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals have more spaces to treat patients faster”.