School student tests positive to coronavirus as SA Health bans work-related staff travel
A school student from Sacred Heart is SA’s first person-to-person transmission of coronavirus as the state moves beyond the “containment phase” – it comes as events across the country are being cancelled.
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A high school student is among four new coronavirus cases in South Australia.
The student, from Sacred Heart College’s senior campus at Somerton Park, is thought to be the state’s first person-to-person transmission.
Health authorities say other cases confirmed on Friday include a woman in her 50s from the US, a man in his 60s from the US and a man in his 50s from Europe.
They take the total in SA to 16, prompting Chief Medical Officer Nicola Spurrier to declare that the state has moved beyond the containment phase.
It comes as all work-related travel for SA Health staff is banned and the PM said gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled from Monday.
Tasting Australia has been postponed, and AFLW says supporters will not be able to attend matches as of tomorrow.
As of Saturday March 14, NAB AFLW matches will only host players, coaches, essential club officials, umpires, AFL officials, broadcast teams, media & required venue staff with no supporters permitted to attend.
— AFL House (@AFL_House) March 13, 2020
Education Minister John Gardner says there is “no suggestion” schools would close under the PM’s recommendation, but school assemblies would “not be appropriate”.
He said earlier today that schools would close for at least 24 hours if a case was confirmed there.
Two classes at Sacred Heart are likely affected – those students have been asked to quarantine for two weeks. In addition, the school has cancelled various sporting events this weekend.
The campus will be cleaned during the weekend.
The school student is in isolation at home, and is thought to have contracted the virus from one his parents, who had travelled overseas.
Students from his class will only be tested if they develop symptoms.
Events in doubt after PM calls for cancellations
The AMA says Australians should stop attending mass events immediately, after the Prime Minister Scott Morrison said events with more than 500 people should be cancelled from Monday.
There have been a surge of cancelled events already today, including the Australia Grand Prix and the Sydney Royal Easter Show. The AFL is set to play its Round 1 matches in empty stadiums.
Adelaide fans hoping to get a glimpse of Erin Phillips’ return to the field will be forced to watch from home as the AFL bans all fans from attending AFLW games as of Saturday.
A statement on the AFL House Twitter page said as of Saturday March 14 only “players, coaches, essential club officials, umpires, AFL officials, broadcast teams, media and required venue staff” would be allowed into stadiums for AFLW games.
That means all fans will be locked out and unable to watch Adelaide’s match against GWS at Hisense Stadium (Richmond oval) on Sunday.
Basketball SA has cancelled junior and senior games until further notice and Tasting Australia has been postponed until spring.
The Adelaide Festival will not be cancelling any events, because it ends on Sunday, before the Monday deadline. The Adelaide Fringe’s closing weekend activities will go ahead as well.
However, the fate of musical School of Rock, which was to open at the 2000-seat Festival Centre on March 20, is unknown.
The Federal Government is advising against 'non-essential, organised gatherings' of 500 people or more from Monday, 16 March. Under the advice of the Federal Government relating to the ongoing pandemic, Adelaide Fringe will continue through until Sunday night. 1/3
— Adelaide Fringe (@ADLfringe) March 13, 2020
Please note all Adelaide Festival events will be proceeding tonight and the following two days, as the Government's advice about restrictions on mass gatherings does not come into effect until Monday. pic.twitter.com/mFflcRLKii
— Adelaide Festival (@adelaidefest) March 13, 2020
And the Generations of Jazz festival in Mt Gambier in early May, which about 6000 people were heading to, has also been cancelled.
SA Health bans staff work travel
In a heightened response, all 40,000 SA Health staff – the state’s biggest agency – are prevented from domestic or international travel from Saturday.
The ban, which is in place indefinitely, will stop all SA Health doctors, nurses, midwives and allied health staff from attending conferences or seminars.
In a memo to all staff issued a short time ago, and obtained by The Advertiser, the agency’s chief executive Chris McGowan said line managers with delegation to approve professional development or work-related travel “are directed to decline any such requests until further notice”.
Only Dr McGowan, and the different local health network chief executives, can authorise any future travel.
“Any current approval is being withdrawn with immediate effect, and any future requests will not be granted,” he told staff.
“This measure will help to ensure that our health workforce is preserved and reduce the risk of any critical workforce shortages.
“Similarly, all non-essential, work-related international and interstate travel for all SA Health staff will also not be permitted from (Saturday) until further notice.
“Any exemptions must be discussed and agreed with your relevant Chief Executive Officer.”
He added: “Where travel associated with professional development is being impacted as a result of this directive, we will work through the consequences of that with you.
“I would like to thank you for your understanding and acceptance of these new measures, as we all work together to protect all the community.”
ASC worker tests positive
The dramatic development comes as an ASC worker tested positive to coronavirus, forcing the shipbuilding company to close a building for professional cleaning.
All employees who have had contact with the worker have been notified and are in self-isolation.
The building the staffer worked in is closed for professional cleaning as a precaution.
All other ASC facilities and operations are unaffected.
The Osborne facility carries out maintenance on the Collins Class submarines.
Friday’s four new cases join three cases on Thursday:
A manin his 60s and a woman in her 50s who both recently returned from Europe, including Italy, Spain and France
And another woman in her 40s – SA Health says more details are coming.
There was an error in yesterday’s information provided. In some cases we provided the departure date, as opposed to the arrival dates for the flights of known COVID-19 cases. If you, or anyone you know, is impacted by the change, please email health.coronavirusenquiries@sa.gov.au pic.twitter.com/h9CjZc5zBM
— SA Health (@SAHealth) March 13, 2020
Two of the latest cases were identified through tests at the RAH clinic, while one was at the Repat drive-in clinic.
More than 800 people have been tested in SA so far. There is no change in the condition of the other four cases, who are stable. Three other cases have all recovered.
Schools prepare for drastic action
The Education Department earlier on Friday released advice for parents and schools for when a student or staff member tested positive, saying the school would close immediately for at least 24 hours, with students sent home.
Preparation by schools and the department move follows news that the state’s new drive-through coronavirus testing clinic has uncovered its first patient, one of three to be confirmed on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 12.
The State Government has provided the same advice to Catholic and independent schools which are expected to adopt similar protocols.
Once a case is detected, public health officials will move into the school to disinfect the premises and assess with whom the infected student has been in contact.
This assessment will inform decisions on how long the school would be closed.
“This protocol is an essential measure to keep our education sites safe and slow the spread of coronavirus,” Mr Gardner said.
“It is critically important that we are prepared for the likely eventuality that a child or staff member becomes ill.
“We understand that any closure will cause disruption to families, but it is absolutely vital that we follow the best advice of health officials.”
Professor Spurrier said it was essential to take prompt action.
“An immediate closure provides the best chance of containment and allows the public health team to carry out the necessary work to identify close contacts who will need to remain at home for 14 days,” she said.
Mr Gardner urged parents to keep any children with flu-like symptoms at home.
“We are asking parents to keep sick children at home and we’re asking employers to be flexible and understanding,” he said.
“We know it can be difficult to arrange care or take time off work to care for a child, but in the current circumstances we need people to do everything they can for the health of the wider community.”
The Education Department also has ordered schools to cancel or postpone any overseas travel by staff or students at least until the end of Term 2.
Trips inside SA, interstate or to New Zealand are still permitted but any trips abroad — for example to ANZAC commemorations at Gallipoli — are banned.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan has flagged the possibility of school holidays being brought forward or extended.
At least four schools interstate — two each in NSW and Victoria — have closed because of coronavirus.
– with AAP