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Coronavirus live: Police to probe pizza worker lie

South Australian police have announced a specialised taskforce that will unravel the lie a pizza worker told that sent the state into lockdown.

Natalie Wolfe, Stephanie Bedo and Victoria Craw
less than 2 min read
November 20, 2020 - 1:44PM
Premier ‘fuming’ over individual who ‘deliberately misled’ contact tracers

A police taskforce will investigate the lie that sparked SA's coronavirus lockdown.

 

 

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens announced the launch of Taskforce Protect this afternoon, which will investigate any alleged criminal activities by any person in the lead-up to and after the advice provided to SA Health prior to the lockdown.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Harvey will head it up, and said the taskforce would look at what, if any, legislation had been breached.

Premier Steven Marshall earlier lashed the "disgraceful conduct" of the pizza worker that's left South Australians fuming.

Mr Marshall said one of the close contacts from Woodville Pizza Bar had "deliberately misled" contact tracers.

"Their story didn't add up. We pursued them. We now know that they lied. I stress this point, that this is still a very dangerous cluster and our expert health – our health experts remain extremely concerned," he said.

"I will not let the disgraceful conduct of a single individual to keep SA in these circuit breaker conditions one day longer than what is necessary. However, this lie still means that our contact tracers need breathing space to contact people but not for as long."

Follow our live coverage below.

Updates

'Big night planned' for schoolies

Watch out Byron Bay, the schoolies are coming for you.

Earlier we reported police are warning schoolies to stay COVID-safe as they start to arrive in the northern NSW town today.

Year 12 school leavers who have arrived at Ballina Airport have told NBN News they plan to have a big night and party hard.

It's going to be hot in SA this weekend!

If you've got coronavirus symptoms or you need to be tested, plan your day to avoid the scorching heat.

SA announces new police taskforce

A new taskforce has been set up to investigate the false information that was provided to contact tracers.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the taskforce was made up of 20 detectives and analysts.

It will report twice daily to taskforce leader Peter Harvey.

Assistant Commissioner Harvey said at least one person had not told the truth and it would look at what, if any, legislation had been breached.

"I'm approaching this whole thing with an open mind," he said.
Assistant Commissioner Harvey said no stone would be left unturned and they would focus on any potential criminal activity.

"My obligation is totally different to being caught up in the emotion," he said.

"The importance of this is not lost on SA Police. If, in the end, there are (any charges possible) there will be and if there aren't there won't be.

"It may well be that there isn't any criminal offence.

Commissioner Stevens said he was satisfied the contact tracing team was not told the truth in the first instance.

"I'm sure the individual is reflecting on the statements they made," Mr Stevens said.

He said his initial legal advice was that, while people were obligated to provide information at a contact tracer’s request, there was no penalty for a lie.

"My understanding is they can’t be arrested or charged, but my team will look at any mechanism whatsoever," he said.

South Australians hit the pavement

Understandably, South Australians have wasted no time getting outside after restrictions were eased.

Those dogs that were stuck at home yesterday are glad to be going for their walks.

People can now exercise outside in family groups after that part of the lockdown was lifted.

NT to take Adelaide off hotspot list

In a shock announcement, the NT is looking to reopen to all of South Australia from 9am tomorrow after it was revealed contract tracing had been incorrect.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said chief health officer Hugh Heggie planned to reopen to the state including those in Adelaide and its surrounds.
It's good news for people in quarantine who will be allowed to leave.

They must test negative for coronavirus this afternoon and be showing no symptoms.

The CHO is waiting on overnight testing results from SA to make the call.

South Australians react to #pizzagate

Tempers are running hot after a pizza shop staffer lied to contact tracers, sparking SA's six-day lockdown.

Premier Steven Marshall said he was “fuming” after it was revealed on Friday a worker with coronavirus lied to contact tracers, with authorities now fearful of retaliation against the business.

You can read more on that here or scroll through our blog.

There's been a wide ranging mix of reaction from South Australians – some of them also fuming, while others say the culprit shouldn't be singled out and people shouldn't point blame.

I should point out, don't get the Aussie hashtag confused because there's a Trump-related US one going around too.

One person labelled the Woodville Pizza Bar saga "the biggest coronavirus scandal of the year".

"But the poor business owner copping it big time. And the only mistake he made was to hire a lying employee who put the whole South Australia into lockdown," they wrote on Twitter.

Another person wrote, "Easy to blame the Woodville pizza bar and staff. Imagine if the government had to close every time they stuffed up or lied. They’d never be open".

Time to talk about the pigeon...

Look, yesterday I addressed our canine friends being stuck at home and I didn't want to bombard you with animal content.

But we have to talk about the Rundle Mall Pigeon. It even has its own Twitter account, it's that big of a deal.

There's been a lot going around about the Pidge, basically the only thing left in the deserted mall after South Australians stayed home.

The theory is all this trouble started when the $174,000 sculpture arrived.

Now South Australians are backtracking, apologising to the sculpture after #pizzagate unfolded today.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-australia-live-south-australia-victoria-nsw-updates/live-coverage/f6c07deca8947333c467379f9064a54b