SA slaps tough new rules on regions as authorities investigate Mount Gambier Covid-19 case

Tough restrictions are being imposed in three regional areas as authorities investigate the movements of a Covid-positive resident.

South Australian authorities say they are investigating the movements of a Mount Gambier woman who tested positive to Covid-19 after returning from Victoria at the weekend.

The woman, aged in her 40s, told health officials she had been visiting family in Casterton, which is within SA’s current 70-kilometre border bubble with Victoria.

But SA chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said on Monday she couldn’t say “at this time” whether the woman had visited Casterton after reports emerged that the woman had visited Melbourne.

The mother of four, who was not vaccinated, had been symptomatic since September 26 and got tested on October 1 when she returned to Mount Gambier, SA Health said.

Professor Spurrier was asked by reporters on Monday whether the woman had travelled beyond the border bubble and if she had been forthcoming to authorities about her movements.

She said the woman was co-operating with SA Health and said she didn’t have “full information” yet.

“There are reasons why people might not tell us the whole story,” Professor Spurrier said.

“ … That might be because they are frightened or they might be anxious … so we just need to be cognisant that not everybody is in the same situation as we might be.”

Professor Nicola Spurrier says the positive case is co-operating with SA Health. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

She said she hadn’t received a copy of an internal memo that Casterton Hospital chief executive Owen Stephens reportedly sent to staff, which claimed the “supposed Covid contact from Casterton has been found to be an untruth”.

Casterton Hospital has been contacted for comment.

Professor Spurrier said 12 primary close contacts had been identified, including her children, with 10 already returning negative tests.

Mandatory vaccinations for border zone residents who want to cross the SA border are expected to be introduced within seven days.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has announced social distancing rules for three regional LGAs. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Kelly Barnes

The positive case has triggered the introduction of social distancing restrictions on three local government areas near the border.

Residents of Mount Gambier, Grant and Wattle Range will be subject to density limits of one person per four-square metres and home gatherings limited to two extra people and 10 for weddings or funerals.

Masks will be mandatory in public and high-risk areas, there will be some restrictions on community sport, and private functions will be banned.

The rules came into effect on Monday at 4pm and will be in place for at least seven days.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the restrictions would be reassessed if there was any indication of community spread in those areas.

SA recorded another new case on Monday, bringing the total number of active cases to four.

A truck driver in his 30s from Victoria who arrived on October 2, got tested in SA and has since returned to Victoria, has returned a positive test result.

A truckie lounge and a service station in Port August have been named as exposure sites.

Originally published as SA slaps tough new rules on regions as authorities investigate Mount Gambier Covid-19 case