Victoria Park testing clinic wait times surge after SA sees first locally acquired cases

In a case of history repeating itself, motorists waited more than three hours for a Covid test at Victoria Park overnight. Among those in line this morning was Labor leader Peter Malinauskas.

Motorists waited in line for more than three hours at Victoria Park’s testing clinic on Wednesday night as South Australia recorded its first locally acquired Covid cases since state borders were reopened last week.

Former SA premier Jay Weatherill, who now lives in Perth, was among those who tested positive after attending a school reunion in Nortwood on Saturday.

Two other SA men also tested positive after attending the event with interstate travellers.

I’m happy to report that SA pathology have messaged me advising my Covid test result is NEGATIVE. While I’m relieved by this news, my thoughts are with those Sth Australians who have now got Covid. Now that the virus is in SA, it is more important than ever people get vaccinated.

— Peter Malinauskas (@PMalinauskasMP) December 1, 2021

SA Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas was named a close contact of Mr Weatherill after he attended a lunch with him earlier this week.

He tweeted earlier on Thursday morning that he had tested negative to Covid-19, but was spotted at the Victoria Park testing clinic again on Thursday with his children, who also required a test.

South Australian opposition leader Peter Malinauskas drives through the Victoria Park testing clinic. Picture: Kelly Barnes

SA Health says the new cases are not classified as community transmission, because people were infected by a case from interstate.

Contact tracers have identified at least five exposure sites as a testing surge hit a four month high. Tuesday’s test total of 10,728 was the highest since the Modbury cluster in August.

Any close contacts who become infected will be classified as community transmission cases.

New exposure sites were listed by SA Health and multiple contacts of the positive cases contacted, prompting a surge in overnight testing wait times.

The Victoria Park drive-through COVID-19 testing site is experiencing longer than usual waiting times. A reminder that Ridgehaven site is open 24/7 and Bedford Park (Sturt-Laffer) is open 7am-11pm. To book online or find an alternative testing site, visit https://t.co/daEpRqXyQV

— SA Health (@SAHealth) December 1, 2021

SA Health posted to Twitter about the wait times, urging people to consider visiting the Ridgehaven site – which is also open 24/7.

People lining up in there cars for Covid -19 testing at Victoria Park in Adelaide. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Wait times had eased by Thursday morning, with no more than 20 cars in line at 6.30am, but it was expected lines would increase later.

SA Health says it is believed the two men in their 50s caught the virus from an interstate traveller. Another case was recorded Wednesday, a person who got the infection overseas, who has been in isolation since arriving in SA.

Multiple senior MPs had to get tested last night, including SA Labor leader Peter Malinauskas and Deputy Leader Susan Close, who both returned a negative result.