Jay Weatherill, the Norwood Covid cluster, and what happened next

The ex-premier caught Covid at a school reunion and is now “too sick” to talk, while other prominent South Aussies who met with him are now in isolation for a week.

The random, intertwined and potentially far-reaching nature of the spread of Covid-19 has been forcefully brought home to South Australians by the disarray and mild panic brought about by former premier Jay Weatherill’s positive coronavirus test.

Mr Weatherill has now been confined to the Tom’s Court medi-hotel for two week and was yesterday not feeling well enough to talk to The Advertiser as he battled Covid-19. The Advertiser requested an interview with Mr Weatherill, who texted the reporter to say he was “too sick” to talk.

It’s been a rough few days for the former SA premier, who now lives in Western Australia, after accepting a post-political job as chief executive of Thrive by Five, a children’s advocacy organisation that falls under the umbrella of mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.

Mr Weatherill was back in town to catch up with mates at his 40-year school reunion but the former premier also used his time back in his home town to talk up his new job, promote the cause of education for young kids and catch up with a few old political mates.

Ocean View College at Taper has closed for the day due to a Covid case in their community. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

The upshot has been that a veritable who’s who of Adelaide’s upper echelons has spent the past 36 hours rushing to be Covid-tested after being in close contact with Mr Weatherill.

The subsequent chaos even led to the temporary shutting down of state parliament on Thursday. However, that was short-lived. Later that day the lower house voted not to sit again until two months after the March state election, while the upper house will return in February.

The drama started on Saturday at the Henley High reunion, held at Norwood’s Theatre Bugs. It’s believed an interstate traveller came to the show with the undetected virus and prompted the Norwood cluster which has now grown to 18 cases.

Despite the severity of Mr Weatherill’s illness, none of the former premier’s deemed close contacts have tested positive so far, but even those who returned a negative result will be in isolation for at least the next seven days, then be required to wear a mask for another week after that.

HOW THE NORWOOD CLUSTER SPREAD

- Saturday, November 27 
Theatre Bugs, Norwood, exposure period 2pm-2am. It was a Henley High School 40 year reunion. Two men, aged in their 50s, attended the event before testing positive to the virus.
It’s believed the virus passed on from an interstate traveller at the event.
Former South Australian premier Jay Weatherill attended and subsequently tests positive on Wednesday, December 1.

- Sunday, November 28
Mr Weatherill attends Government House in the afternoon to meet with Governor Frances Adamson.

- Monday, November 29
Mr Weatherill has coffee with SA Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas and former deputy premier John Rau, outside at Parlamento restaurant.
In the evening, Mr Weatherill is a guest speaker at an event alongside epidemiologist Sally Brinkman.
Theatre Bugs is deemed a low risk venue on Monday, 9am-6pm

- Tuesday, November 30 
Mr Weatherill has lunch with Advertiser editor Gemma Jones and editor-at-large Paul Starick at Press* Food and Wine at 12pm. He meets News Corp Australia executive Melvin Mansell when leaving. He attends 5AA studios for a radio interview with Will Goodings and David Pentherby.
Theatre Bugs deemed a low risk venue on Tuesday, 9am-6pm
Attendees at an induction night at Business SA, in Unley, are deemed ‘close contacts’ of a positive case.

- Wednesday, December 1
Mr Weatherill confirms in the morning he is isolating and awaiting a test result after being notified two people from the reunion had tested positive.
He returns a positive test later in the day, prompting Mr Malinauskas and Mr Rau to urgently get tested alongside other close contacts at Victoria Park testing station – both men have since tested negative.
Mr Weatherill, a West Australian resident, is moved into the Tom’s Court medi-hotel for 14 days quarantine.
SA health tweets Ocean View College will also be closed on Thursday, after a member of the school community tested positive to Covid-19. 
SA Governor Frances Adamson isolates after being advised by SA Health she was a close contact of Mr Weatherill. She gets tested at midnight. Earlier in the day she had attended the Lord Mayor’s annual Christmas luncheon, which had more than 60 high-profile attendees.

- Thursday, December 2
Ms Adamson returns a negative test result, but must remain in isolation.
As a result, Lieutenant-Governor Professor Brenda Wilson has been appointed as administrator of the state. Ms Wilson will remain as administrator for the duration of Ms Adamson’s isolation period.
Mr Malinauskas returns to Victoria Park to have his children tested for the virus.
SA Parliament is shutdown.
Premier Steven Marshall holds a 1pm press conference to announce 18 new cases – 16 associated with the Norwood cluster, two are interstate travellers. 
210 close contacts are in quarantine. 
Testing requirements change for people arriving from NSW to require them to also get tested on arrival, not just provide a negative test within 72 hours before entering SA.
Theatre Bugs owner Michael Eustice tests positive to Covid-19 and is in a medi-hotel.

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They will also need to undergo further tests.

Mr Weatherill caught up with SA Governor Frances Adamson on Sunday at Government House. The Governor tested negative but not before attending the Lord Mayor’s annual Christmas lunch.

On Monday, Mr Weatherill had a coffee with Peter Malinauskas, his replacement as Labor Leader, and his former deputy John Rau.

The trio were spotted drinking coffee outside at North Terrace restaurant Parlamento.

Peter Malinauskas, Jay Weatherill and John Rau meet for coffee at Parlamento in Adelaide on November 29. Picture: Twitter/SA Liberal Media

Mr Malinauskas said he found out from the media at 8.20pm Wednesday that his former leader had tested positive and that he immediately went to Victoria Park to be tested.

He returned a negative result but went back later with his kids, who were also tested.

When it was deemed state parliament was safe to resume on Thursday afternoon, Mr Malinauskas tweeted a picture of himself tuning into the online coverage.

By Tuesday, Mr Weatherill was spruiking Thrive by Five to media outlets including The Advertiser.

SA Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas drives through the Victoria Park Covid testing site. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Jay Weatherill in the FIVEaa studio with David Penberthy and Will Goodings on November 30.

The former premier had lunch at Press on Waymouth St with editor Gemma Jones and editor-at-large Paul Starick.

He also had an in-studio interview with FIVEaa breakfast duo David Penberthy and Will Goodings.

All are now in isolation. The state left to adjust to life living with Covid.

A spokesman for West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook said when Mr Weatherill was cleared to fly again, he would need to observe any current restrictions upon his return. “This could potentially involve a further 14 days of quarantine depending on WA’s risk rating for South Australia at the time,” he said.

Originally published as Jay Weatherill, the Norwood Covid cluster, and what happened next