Coronavirus: Red flag raised at Adelaide Aiport case surge

Recent Adelaide Airport users have been told to get tested for coronavirus if they feel unwell and disinfect their baggage.

Delayed Qantas travellers at Adelaide Airport, after six Qantas baggage handlers have tested positive for COVID-19. Picture: Matt Loxton

Anyone who has passed through the Adelaide Airport in the past 14 days should watch for coronavirus symptoms, get tested if they feel unwell and disinfect their baggage to guard against infection.

That was the message from SA Health on Wednesday as the coronavirus cluster worsened at the SA capital’s airport, jumping to 13 cases as the state’s total cases rose by 30 to 367.

Qantas revealed on Tuesday that six baggage handlers had tested positive to COVID-19 from an unknown source. The men worked in close proximity with another 100 staff, all of whom are now in two weeks’ quarantine.

The number of cases rose on Wednesday with another five Qantas baggage handlers and two family members testing positive.

While the SA government has been confident only three of the state’s cases so far have come from community transmission — as opposed to international travel and cruise ships — the Adelaide Airport cases raise fears this cluster may have spread via community transmission.

SA Health says the first baggage handler became infected about the “first week of March”.

Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said while the risk of infection by passengers was low, people should still watch for symptoms. The testing parameters have been widened so that anyone who visited the airport in the past fortnight will be automatically able to get a COVID-19 test.

Qantas said it was working closely with SA Health to ensure staff and travellers were all safe.

“We are working to minimise any disruptions to customers who are flying in and out of Adelaide, although passenger numbers are significantly reduced due to government travel restrictions,” the airline said.

“We’re working with SA Health, who are conducting a thorough tracing process for each of the confirmed cases. Other employees who may have had contact with these employees will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

“In addition to enhanced cleaning measures introduced since the coronavirus outbreak at airports and on aircraft, we are conducting extensive cleaning of common areas used by these employees in Adelaide.”

The few flights in and out of Adelaide are back on track after a Sydney-to-Adelaide flight was turned back on Wednesday night as there were not enough staff to unload the bags from the plane.

Four of SA’s new cases are linked to the Ruby Princess, bringing that total to 78 and total cruise ship cases in SA to 109.

The SA government also announced on Wednesday that the state’s Communicable Disease Control Branch’s contact tracing team would be boosted by up to 300 additional staff.

Up to 150 staff will be recommissioned from other roles to boost the contact tracing team immediately, while up to another 150 will be ready for surge capacity if the caseload escalates.

Premier Steven Marshall said he had activated the Public Sector Mobilisation Policy to ensure the state’s resources were being best used during the pandemic.

“The additional contact tracing staff will further improve South Australia’s world- class COVID-19 containment strategy that underpins our strong plan to protect South Australians during the coronavirus pandemic,” Mr Marshall said.

SA Pathology has already conducted more than 25,000 tests, the highest per capita rate of testing in Australia.