South Australia records first locally acquired Covid case in more than 200 days
South Australia has avoided a city-wide lockdown as the state recorded five locally acquired cases, its first in more than 200 days.
South Australia has reported five locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Wednesday for the first time in more than 200 days
Premier Steven Marshall said the infections are in one family and “categorised as linked transmission” connected to the mine outbreak in the Northern Territory.
The first case was a mine worker who infected his wife and three of his four children.
All of these new cases have been at home in isolation since Saturday.
The state had feared new infections would result in a lockdown but Mr Marshall instead introduced new restrictions, including the reduction of social gatherings in homes to 10 people.
“We don’t want a lockdown in South Australia,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
The Premier insists the five cases were not infectious in the community.
As of Tuesday, the state had gone 211 days without recorded any community transmission; the last was related to the Parafield cluster that threw the state into a three-day lockdown in November last year.
While avoiding a city-wide lockdown Mr Marshall has announced a raft of new restrictions.
Home gatherings will be reduced to ten people, and mask wearing has now been recommended in retail settings where you cannot social distance.
People are not required to wear a mask at work or in social settings.
Mr Marshall has also asked people to work from home if people are unable to social distance at their workplace.
People are also being urged to be vigilant checking into venues with the QR codes.
Earlier this week, the potential seeding of Covid-19 from interstate spooked SA authorities into introducing tougher restrictions that came into effect at 12.01am on Tuesday.
SA authorities introduced changes to prevent the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant that has wreaked havoc across the nation, throwing majority of other jurisdictions into lockdowns.
Under the restrictions, masks will need to be worn in high risk settings like aged care facilities and hospitals, and were “highly recommended” for commuters using public transport and rideshare vehicles.
No communal facilities, like buffets or smoking shisha, are permitted.
Singing has also been banned at indoor seated entertainment facilities, such as choirs and karaoke bars.
Following Monday’s announcement, both Premier Steven Marshall and chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier have strongly encouraged South Australians to get tested as soon as system develop, to get vaccinated if eligible and use QR codes.
At the time, Professor Spurrier said the evolving Covid-19 situation across the nation was “very concerning”.
“If we get this Delta strain in our community with the behaviours that we have, we will have a very serious problem that I can’t promise we’ll get on top of (because of the low level of restrictions),” she said.
“If anyone wants to think about what kind of problem it could be, have a look at NSW.”
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