Alleged Covid positive teenager to front court over nightclubbing fiasco

The teenager who allegedly went to a nightclub despite an alert about being Covid positive has been charged.

The teenager who was allegedly told he was infected with Covid-19 and still went to a popular Adelaide CBD nightclub will front court.

The 19-year-old from Kensington Park was charged with failing to comply with directions under the Emergency Management Act on Tuesday.

He allegedly entered the Hindley St club called Loverboy about 10.45pm on December 17 instead of quarantining after receiving a message from SA Health that he had returned a positive test 25 minutes earlier.

A 19-year-old who allegedly received an alert about being Covid positive and went into a nightclub has been arrested and charged. Picture: Supplied

The eastern suburb teen was later put into Tom’s Court — the state’s dedicated Covid positive medi hotel — to complete his isolation, and about 150 staff and revellers also went into quarantine after the venue was declared a close contact exposure site.

Fully vaccinated attendees would have exited isolation on Christmas Eve but those who weren’t missed Christmas festivities and would still be quarantining until New Year’s Eve.

At the time, SA Police said they were investigating the incident.

“If you receive any advice, whether it be a telephone call or text message … then you should follow the health advice,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said, speaking generally.

Loverboy’s management said it was forced to close over what would have been the busiest week of the year. Picture: Matt Loxton

In a statement, Loverboy’s management said it was forced to close over what would have been the busiest week of the year.

“Our business is no stranger to being closed — we’ve had to do it a lot over the past two years — but now ... we have to close our doors for the busiest week of the year, and the majority of our staff and patrons will be opening presents in isolation,” they said.

The young man was initially refused police bail but after a review, he was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in February next year.

If found guilty, the maximum penalty for breaching Covid-19 directions is a $20,000 fine or two years imprisonment.

Originally published as Alleged Covid positive teenager to front court over nightclubbing fiasco