Why SA’s COVID-19 infectious patient tally has hit a five-month high
Infectious COVID-19 cases have hit a five-month high in SA, but SA Health says there’s no public risk. Here’s why.
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South Australia has recorded its highest number of infectious coronavirus patients in five months because of the state’s obligation to accept returning expatriates and travellers.
SA Health on Friday announced the latest cases were a male teenager and a female, aged in her 20s, who tested positive after they returned from overseas on Wednesday.
The pair, who are not linked, are among 10 infectious patients recovering in the Pullman medi-hotel, in Hindmarsh Square.
Records show it is the highest number of “active” cases since May 1, when there were 12 infectious patients.
The next previous highest was nine in early August at the height of the “Thebarton cluster”.
SA Health said none of the current cases posed any public risk because they were contracted overseas and were contained in the state’s hotel quarantine system.
The State Government has agreed to lift its international arrival cap to help thousands of Australians stranded overseas come home after national Cabinet authorised the travel boost.
Under emergency management rules, all international travellers must quarantine in a hotel for a fortnight and undertake mandatory COVID-19 tests on their first and 12th days in isolation.
Experts said the state remained COVID-19 safe because none of the infectious had been acquired in the local community.
The state’s chief public health officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, remains confident of this because of relatively high testing rates.
Total tests have hit 528,925 following 2733 checks that occurred on Thursday.
Public health authorities are managing at least three international airlines each week with up to 600 passengers arriving at Adelaide Airport from Asia and the Middle East.
SA Health has allowed an increase in international passengers – from a 60-person cap up to 240 people on commercial flights to 150 travellers per trip to a maximum 600 every seven days.
Health officials have signed a contract for an eighth police-guarded “medi-hotel” at the Stamford Plaza, North Terrace, which has expanded the quarantine program to 800 rooms.
Other quarantine hotels under police guard include the Pullman; Peppers, Waymouth Street; Playford, North Terrace; Rockford and Grand Chancellor, both in Hindley Street; IBIS in Grenfell Street as well as Mount Gambier’s Southgate Motel.
SA Health is the state’s biggest hotel customer during the coronavirus pandemic.
