Eight new Covid cases in SA on Friday, two suspected to be Omicron variant

SA has recorded eight new Covid cases, with two thought to be Omicron, the first time the variant has hit the state. New exposure sites have been announced as well.

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Fully vaccinated people will have to immediately quarantine for 14 days if they are deemed a close contact of an Omicron infection after new SA Health rules issued on Friday afternoon.

Previously, fully vaccinated people faced a seven-day quarantine if they were a close contact of a Covid case while unvaccinated people faced the full 14 days isolation.

SA has two “suspected” Omicron infections but these are yet to be confirmed by genetic tests.

The Communicable Disease Network Australia updated the national guidelines stating jurisdictions should consider increasing testing, isolation and quarantine requirements in relation to the Omicron strain.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier noted that despite their high vaccination rates, the ACT has already moved to require all Omicron close contacts to undergo 14 days of quarantine.

“South Australia is also in a more vulnerable position to immune-escape from the Omicron strain given our current vaccination rates and potential for higher transmission in comparison to other states, Prof Spurrier said.

“With the latest advice and our current situation in mind, 14 days of quarantine will be required for all Omicron, or suspected Omicron, close contacts regardless of their vaccination status.

“Casual contact requirements for Omicron cases will continue with the requirement to get tested immediately and quarantine until a negative test result is received, and to get tested again on day 6 and day 13.

“Vaccinated close contacts of suspected Omicron cases will be advised if the genomic results show the case is another strain and their quarantine requirements will be reduced to seven days.

“We will review the quarantine requirements as we learn more about the severity of Omicron and as always, will put the health and safety of South Australians first.”

In another major change on Friday, rapid antigen tests have been approved for use for:

Medical practitioners

• Dental practitioners

• Ambulance service

• Specialist outpatient facilities

• Private pathology centres

• Private radiology centres

• Defence health settings

• Aboriginal community controlled health services

• All hospitals

A person who receives a positive rapid antigen result must obtain a Covid PCR test as soon as possible and quarantine until a negative test result.

RATs are available to the public interstate but are prohibited in SA because they are less reliable than PCR tests.

Meanwhile, interstate arrivals from Covid-risk areas no longer have to isolate while waiting for Covid test results.

Previously, travellers arriving from moderate-risk areas were required to test upon arrival and quarantine until a negative test result was returned - now, they must still test upon arrival but only quarantine until the test is taken.

Once the test is taken they are free to move in the community while waiting for results.

“However it is strongly recommended a person who has received a Covid-19 test should limit their contact with others to avoid them all having to quarantine if the test result is positive,” the new official direction states.

Eight new cases. two suspected to be Omicron

Eight new cases of Covid have been reported, including two suspected of being the Omicron variant – although tests are continuing.

And the Omicron threat has caused a change in quarantine rules, with all close contacts of the variant – or suspected close contacts – now forced to quarantine for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status.

Previously fully vaccinated people had to quarantine for just seven days.

Two of the new cases are close contacts of the Norwood cluster pushing its total to 32.

The latest cases are three men aged between 20 and 90, four women aged between 20 and 60, and a child.

Olivers Pets and Plants in Glengowrie is closed after it became a Covid exposure site. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Of these, one case acquired their infection overseas and has been in quarantine since their arrival and four cases acquired their infection interstate. Two of the interstate cases are “suspected to be the Omicron variant” according to SA Health.

A further case acquired their infection locally, however the source of their infection is yet to be identified.

Five of the new cases were vaccinated, two were not and the status of the eighth is unknown.

There are now 53 active cases including a woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s who remain in the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a stable condition.

There are 38 people in supervised quarantine, 13 in home quarantine, and 1591 close contacts have been identified.

New close contact sites are:

Glengowrie – Olivers Pets and Plants

• Tuesday 7 December – 8.30am to 5.30pm

Plympton – Chicken Shack Seafood and Grill

• Tuesday 7 December – 2.00pm to 3.00pm

Kilburn – Supercheap Auto

• Wednesday 8 December – 12.00pm to 1.45pm

All people who were at Oliver’s Pet and Plants at Glengowrie on Tuesday any time between 8.30am to 5.30pm have been told to quarantine for 14 days regardless of quarantine status.

Both must get tested immediately, then on day 6 and 13.

Ikea Adelaide is a casual contact site for December 6 from 2.45pm-3.15pm and West Lakes Resort is a low-risk site on December 6, 6.30pm-8.50pm.

Meanwhile, all passenger transport workers must now be vaccinated by January 3, rather than December 20, and proof of vaccination is required to book rideshare services such as Uber.

The sign outside Olivers Pets and Plants in Glengowrie. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Urgent testing: Omicron cases may have entered SA

Premier Steven Marshall has confirmed investigations are under way for Omicron cases in South Australia

Mr Marshall told FIVEaa radio on Friday morning he was “concerned” new cases observed in Adelaide were of the new variant.

“We are very concerned about that … we did get a couple of cases overnight, we’re testing those to see if they could be our first cases of Omicron,” Mr Marshall said.

SA Health confirmed text messages had been distributed to people who visited sites where suspected Omicron positive cases visited in recent days.

One of the exposure locations is Oliver’s Pets and Plants on Morphett Rd at Glengowrie.

Anyone who visited the site at the time the case (Tuesday, December 7) received a text from SA Health notifying them they must immediately quarantine for 14 days regardless of vaccination status.

They must also get tested immediately, and on days six and 13.

Mr Marshall said testing was still under way in the suspected cases but authorities in SA were being cautious.

Texts are being distributed to people who visited suspected Omicron exposure sites. Picture: supplied

“Sometimes when you get a new case it takes some time to get that assessment, I think they call it the genome sequencing, so we can know exactly what strain it is,” he said.

Mr Marshall said more information about the strain would be provided today in a national cabinet meeting.

“It hasn’t moved as quickly as were thinking it might when the World Health Organisation declared it a variant of concern a couple of weeks ago … but we still have very little information on Omicron,” he said.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said on Friday Omicron had thrown authorities “a bit of a curveball”.

“But we are trying to deliver on our promise to the community of South Australia that a 90 per cent vaccinated community 12 years and above will see less restrictions in place and that’s the endeavour,” he said.

He said the transition committee would hold discussions on what restrictions would be eased at the 90 per cent mark on Tuesday.

“I’m very aware of the community’s expectation that we’ll make changes when we hit that 90 per cent mark because the community has done what we’ve asked of it to go out and get vaccinated, so I think there’ll be some genuine conversations about lifting restrictions once we hit that target.”

Late on Thursday, SA Health announced new exposure sites after the state recorded seven Covid cases, including two linked to the Norwood cluster.

The B. 1.1.529 variant (now dubbed “Omicron”) was first reported to WHO from South Africa on November 24, 2021.

This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning for health authorities.

The new variant is expected to become the new dominant strain of Covid-19, but may not have as serious adverse health effects as the Delta strain, experts say.

The first cases of Omicron in Australia were recorded in New South Wales in recent weeks, and there were 34 cases of the variant in that state in their most recent update on Tuesday.

The first case of the variant was confirmed in Victoria earlier this week in hotel quarantine.

There are five cases of the Omicron variant in the ACT, where more than 98 per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.

In South Australia, 90.7 per cent of people over 12 have had their first dose of the Covid vaccination, and 83.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday expanded authorisation of the Pfizer Covid booster to include 16- and 17-year-olds, amid growing concern over the Omicron variant’s ability to overcome immunity conferred by two shots.

The FDA’s decision comes a day after the companies released the results of lab tests that showed three doses appeared effective against Omicron, while two doses were probably not enough to stop infection – though may still prevent severe disease.

Meanwhile, Australian children aged five to 11 years will be able to roll up their sleeves for a Covid jab from next month after Australia’s expert immunisation panel gave Pfizer’s paediatric vaccine the green light.