Senior Labor figure latest to be diagnosed with Covid

A senior South Australian Labor figure is the latest to be diagnosed with Covid after attending a wedding in Melbourne

Labor Senator Don Farrell has tested positive for Covid-19 and believes he may have contracted the virus while attending a wedding in Melbourne last week.

The fully vaccinated senator returned from Melbourne and tested positive after his required test on day 6.

“On December 12, I was notified that I had tested positive for COVID-19, and immediately began isolating at home, as per SA Health requirements,’’ Senator Farrell said in a statement.

“My staff and other people I’ve been in contact with have been notified and directed to the SA health advice.’’

However, the senator said he was not experiencing any Covid symptoms so far.

“At this stage, I am feeling well and thank everybody who has called or messaged me to check in,’’ he said.

Senator Don Farrell, Labor senator for SA, has tested positive for Covid. Picture: Che Chorley

Senator Farrell, who is Labor’s shadow minister for sport and tourism, said he was “fully vaccinated and urge all Australians to be vaccinated to reduce the risk of severe symptoms and disease, and hospitalisation’’.

“I thank all SA Health staff for their ongoing hard work and dedication on the front line of our efforts to suppress COVID-19 in South Australia.”

Senator Farrell is the second senior Labor figure to have contracted Covid, after former Labor premier Jay Weatherill tested positive after attending a high school reunion in Norwood. Mr Weatherill had been quarantining the Tom’s Court medi-hotel, but tweeted on Sunday night that he was enjoying his “first night of freedom”.

Mr Weatherill’s case caused several high-ranking South Australians to isolate, including Labor leader Peter Malinauskas and Governor Frances Adamson.

Originally published as Senior Labor figure latest to be diagnosed with Covid