Alert upgraded as number of tested South Australians hits 15
Eight of the people tested have so far returned negative results but health authorities still fear coronavirus could be spreading more quickly than expected.
SA News
Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- $1000 each to be evacuated to Christmas Island
- Check out these subscriber-only specials, giveaways and prizes
SA Health has upgraded its alert on coronavirus as the number of South Australians being tested rises to 15 – eight negative and results on the others still coming.
Chief pubic health officer Associate Professor Nicola Spurrier said new information showed the virus possibly spreading faster than anticipated.
“We now have some evidence there may be a very low possibility of people being able to transmit the virus to somebody else in the pre-symptomatic stage, that is the incubation stage,” she said.
“This has led us to be a bit more precautionary.
The advice is anyone who has travelled from Hubei province we would like them to self-isolate for 14 days.”
Dr Spurrier praised the local Chinese community for putting out accurate messages on social media including the advice to self-isolate and see a GP if feeling unwell on return from a trip to China.
SA Health says the likelihood of people being tested positive for the disease is low.
“All of the people under investigation are being managed using standard infection control protocols and we are unable to release details for privacy reasons,” a spokesman said.
“In line with new Commonwealth advice, any travellers who have returned from Hubei Province, China, and anyone who has had contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus, should stay isolated for 14 days.
“We continue to work closely with the Commonwealth Department of Health and health departments in all jurisdictions, as well as local GPs, to monitor the situation closely and provide support as required.”