Daily Covid cases South Australia, for week beginning Sunday, April 3, 2022

New data on Saturday suggests the state may be through the worst of its latest Covid wave, with the most important figure taking another fall.

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South Australia appears to be through the latest Covid-19 wave after new data revealed cases and hospital rates have continued to fall.

SA Health on Saturday reported 4,777 cases, a 15 per cent fall on Friday’s 5666 infection total.

Saturday’s fall of almost 900 infections follows the previous 24 hours decrease of 425 cases.

Official SA Health modelling predicted a peak of between 5500 and 7000 cases.

The hospital rate – the most important indicator – is also falling. On Saturday there were 201 patients being treated in hospitals, after one patient was discharged.

The number of infectious patients hit a new record of 37,053 people, which was an increase of 565 cases.

A woman aged in her 90s is the latest Covid-related death in SA.

Latest SA Health data shows almost 375,000 eligible adults have yet to get their third vaccine.

On Friday there are 39 Lyell McEwin patients – one below capacity.

There are 88 Covid patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and a further 40 admitted at Flinders Medical Centre.

At least 15 youngsters are at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and a further 20 cases in country facilities.

SA Health could not provide capacity figures for the other hospitals because of changing limits.

Health Minister Chris Picton praised people who have been vaccinated.

“The fact we have had high numbers of cases but relatively lower rates of hospitalisations so far is a testament to everyone who has come forward to get their third dose,” he said.

“The more people who are able to come forward and get their third dose means that we can reduce the pressure on our hospital system and ultimately reduce restrictions.”

Royal Adelaide Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Brenton Edwards

Friday, April 8

South Australia has recorded six deaths of people infected with Covid as case numbers dropped to 5666, down from the previous day’s record of 6091.

The grim toll comes as the state government remains on track to end the mask mandate on April 14, in time for Easter festivities.

There are currently 37,053 active cases in South Australia.

The deaths included a woman in her 80s, a woman in her 90s, two men in their 60s, a man in his 70s, and a man in his 80s.

The six deaths brings the state’s Covid-related death toll to 279, and compares with the 13 recorded on January 26 and also on January 27, and the 23 recorded on March 7, which included previously unrecorded deaths.

There are 202 people with Covid in hospital, including 11 people in ICU, one of those ventilated.

There were 17,955 people tested on Thursday, and vaccination rates stand at 95.2 per cent with one shot, 93.1 per cent fully vaccinated and 71.1 per cent who have had a booster.

Thursday, April 7

Covid case numbers have soared to a new record with 6091 new cases reported – breaking the 6000 mark for the first time.

There are now 35,984 active cases in South Australia.

Three new deaths have been recorded among people who were infected; a woman in her 90s and two men in their 80s, bringing the total in SA to 273.

There are 210 people with Covid in hospital, including 12 people in ICU, two of those ventilated.

The previous record number of daily cases was 5784 on April 6, and there were 5679 cases on January 14.

There were 17,672 tests carried out on Wednesday. Latest data shows 95.2 per cent of eligible people have had one vaccination shot, 93.1 per cent are double vaccinated, and 71.1 per cent have had a booster.

A total of 297,732 cases have been recorded in SA.

Wednesday, April 6

South Australia has reported a record one day rise in Covid-19 cases as hospital rates remain stable but another two deaths were reported.

SA Health on Wednesday reported 5784 daily infections, which was an increase of more than 700 over the past 24 hours.

Wednesday’s milestone tops the previous record high of 5679 cases recorded on January 14 at the peak of the last Omicron wave.

More than 60 per cent of new cases are the more highly infectious sub-variant, B. A. 2

But the number of patients admitted to hospital – the key indicator for authorities – only increased by two with 208 people needing medical treatment.

Another patient has been admitted to intensive care, bringing the ICU total to 12. Of those, one patient is in an induced coma on a ventilator.

The ICU rate is at its highest in almost a month. There were two patients who died – a woman in her 90s and a man in his 80s.

There are now 35,034 active, or infectious, people in SA, which is just short of the record 35,525 that was reported on January 20.

SA Health on Tuesday released Adelaide University modelling, which predicts 5500 cases each day and fewer than 200 hospital admissions.

A peak could hit more than 7000 and up to 230 cases, although unlikely.

The data was given to the cabinet’s Emergency Management Council on Tuesday.

Both Premier Peter Malinauskas and chief public health officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier said it was too early to say if the state had reached the Omicron peak.

Tuesday, April 5

As SA faces a peak of about 8000 cases a day, Premier Peter Malinauskas has said he will extend vaccination clinics operations to at least June and the Wayville clinic to July 31.

Several clinics were set to close at the end of May.

It comes as four more people with Covid have died and more than 5000 new Covid cases were reported in SA on Tuesday, with a small decrease in hospitalisations.

The deaths were four women – two in their 60s, one in her 70s and one in her 80s.

SA recorded 5068 new cases, bringing the total of active cases to 35,001.

There are 206 people with Covid in hospital – down from 209 – but there’s been a rise in people in intensive care, from eight to 11, with one of those ventilated.

About around 60 per cent of samples taken were the BA. 2 Omicron sub-variant.

Monday, April 4

There was also a slight rise in Covid cases and the number of people hospitalised with the virus in South Australia on Monday, with 4595 new cases recorded, up from 4096 on Sunday.

Of the new cases, 209 people are in hospital, up from 188 the previous day.

Eight people are in ICU, the same number observed on Sunday.

There were no deaths recorded overnight, and there are currently 35,367 active cases in the state.

The latest genome sampling of the new cases recorded 60 per cent were the BA. 2 Omicron sub-variant.

Sunday, April 3

There have been 4096 cases of Covid-19 reported in South Australia on Sunday, a decline from the previous day which saw 4483 new cases.

One woman in her 80s died after contracting the virus.

Of the cases, 188 are in hospital – up from 184 on Saturday – and eight are in ICU.

It is the highest number of hospitalisations from Covid in more than five weeks.

There are 34,640 cases currently active in SA.

Hospitality workers have pleaded with the state government to consider them essential workers and allow them to attend work as a close contact ahead of an expected case peak in coming days.

Read about last week’s breakdown of Covid case numbers here.

Meanwhile, vulnerable Australians will begin rolling up their sleeves for pre-winter flu and Covid booster shots from today.

More than 190,000 people are now eligible for their fourth shot, which can be given at least four months after their last Covid jab.

This includes people aged 65 and over, aged disability care residents, Indigenous Australians aged 50 and over, as well as immunocompromised people aged over 16.