SA records five new infections as Parafield COVID-19 cluster grows

About 4000 people are isolating and SA has  recorded five new COVID-19 cases today, four of which are linked to the Parafield cluster. 

The Parafield coronavirus cluster has now reached 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with a further 14 suspected.

SA chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier urged South Australians to start restricting their movements as health authorities continue to test thousands of people.

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Prof Spurrier has told a media conference the outbreak, which began in a city medi-hotel, was continuing to spread, with 4000 people now in quarantine.

“There are now 20 cases linked to the cluster, with 14 more suspected cases,” she said. 

Of the five new cases today, one was just revealed this afternoon and is being tested to see if it's also linked to the cluster.

Huge queues have again formed at COVID-19 pop testing stations across Adelaide, with Dr Spurrier apologising for those who have encountered lengthy delays.

“We need to prioritise those people who are symptomatic,” she said.

Prof Spurrier said SA Health had ordered five schools to close down, with Roma Mitchell Secondary School becoming the latest after a student tested positive. The other secondary or primary schools to be closed are Mawson Lakes, Thomas More College, Holy Catholic Families and Mt Carmel College.

Earlier, federal health minister Greg Hunt urged other states to take a proportionate response to the SA cluster, saying: "Our message is very clear. There is a national hotspot definition. South Australia has not reached that."

It comes as South Australia is facing a raft of new coronavirus bans and border restrictions, as authorities launch a rapid response to extinguish a feared second COVID-19 wave.

“The advice is go hard and go early, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Mr Marshall.

Mr Marshall said it was an anxious time for South Australia but the early results were encouraging.

Prof Spurrier said she was optimistic SA would get on top of the latest outbreak but warned it was “early days”.

Clinical work had identified the genomics of the latest strain affecting the state, with it directly traced to the Peppers Hotel in Waymouth St.

A female cleaner in her 50s became infected before transmitting the virus to her husband and elderly in-laws.

The couple then hosted a family gathering where another 11 people became infected.

Members of the family then visited locations across metropolitan Adelaide, exposing other people.

Dr Spurrier said health authorities were particularly concerned about people who attended The Aquadome at Elizabeth between 11.15am and 1.30pm last Saturday as the risk of transmission was high.

“There have been a significant number of new cases today but importantly they all have been linked to the genomics found at the medi-hotel (Peppers),” she said.

People are again turning out in their thousands to coronavirus testing clinics across the city.

Click here for a list of potential virus contact points released by health authorities.

SA Health has listed 42 locations linked to the Parafield cluster; click on the map to see each location, and time/date. If you visited blue locations at that listed time and date, closely monitor your condition and get tested and self-isolate if you experience even mild symptoms such as a cough, scratchy throat, runny nose or fatigue. Red locations required you to isolate for 14 days and get tested immediately. 

Originally published as SA records five new infections as Parafield COVID-19 cluster grows

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