New wave likely as Covid cases surge, amid fears of ‘triple threat virus’

Covid cases continue to climb in SA, with numbers creeping back into the high 2000s. Should South Australians be concerned about a Triple Threat Virus?

A new Covid wave could be rearing its ugly head in SA, as case numbers continue to rise.

The latest weekly figures show a 23 per cent spike in new cases – up to 2,888 cases compared to 2,347 cases the week before.

This week, there were 135 people were in hospital, including five in ICU and one person on a ventilator.

The deaths of two people, aged in their 60s to 80s, were reported.

Professor Nicola Spurrier speaking at a press conference with Health Minister Chris Picton Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Last Friday, Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said increasing Covid cases, seen again this week, indicated another Covid-19 wave.

“We are really, it looks like, at the beginning of this next wave of Covid,” she said.

Speaking at the time, she said the number of Covid cases had increased by 37 per cent, but did not blame the spike on Mad March festivities.

“Regardless of this, we would still be getting a wave,” she said.

“It had been fairly flat for a while and this is really the first week for a long time that we’re now starting to see those cases increase,” Prof Spurrier said.

“This is not surprising and it is something that we had predicted.”

The increasing number of Covid cases seen this week comes after warnings to our state of the “triple threat” virus leading up to this years flu season.

The “triple virus” combines Covid, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus which may hit South Australian’s earlier than normal flu season.