Covid updates February 13, 2022: Two deaths but SA Covid numbers keep falling

Two women in their 80s have died as Covid cases continue to fall but remain above the 1000-a-day mark.

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Covid cases continue to fall but remain above the 1000-a-day mark on Sunday.

Latest data shows 1165 new cases and there are 13,631 active cases in South Australia.

SA Health has confirmed two women in their 80s who tested positive have passed

away, bringing the death toll of people who died while infected with Covid to 151. A total of 124,424 people in SA have now contracted the disease.

There are 211 people with the infection in hospital, including 17 people in ICU, and five people requiring a ventilator.

Of those in hospital, 122 people are fully vaccinated, 36 people are either unvaccinated or

partially vaccinated, and 53 have an unknown status.

Currently 94.8 per cent of eligible South Australians aged 12 and over have received their first dose of the vaccine and 91.8 per cent their second dose. Boosters have been administered to 64.3 per cent of eligible South Australians.

Premier Steven Marshall noted the daily cases have fallen each days since last Wednesday when cases hit 1671.

Saturday, February 12: Woman in 90s dies as numbers keep falling

Another Covid-19 death has been recorded as the state’s case numbers continue to fall.

SA Health on Saturday revealed an infectious woman in her 90s was the latest casualty of the pandemic.

Her death brings the state’s total number of Covid-related fatalities to 149.

In a statement, an SA Health spokeswoman said 1,372 new cases had been identified in the past 24 hours, compared to 1,445 over the previous day.

But she said that a “reconfiguration” of data had identified a further 135 cases.

There are 213 patients in Adelaide hospitals, which is three more than Friday’s update.

Of those, 17 people are in intensive care – a rise of one patient in 24 hours. There are four patients on ventilators in induced comas.

February 11: High-risk exposure site as SA records two Covid deaths

February 11: The Adelaide Aquatic Centre has been listed as a new high-risk exposure site, as the state recorded two Covid-related deaths today.

SA Health announced on Friday afternoon that anyone who had attended the North Adelaide pool in the past week should monitor themselves for Covid symptoms.

The exposure times were listed as: Thursday, February 3, from 4pm-6pm; Saturday, February 5, from 8.30am-11.45am; Tuesday, February 8, from 9.30am-11.30am and 4pm-6.30pm; and Wednesday, February 9, from 9.30am-11.30am.

Earlier, Premier Steven Marshall announced two Covid-related deaths and 1445 new cases.

The deaths were a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 90s.

He said there were 210 people in hospital, with 16 in the ICU and five on ventilators.

“That number has not moved substantially in a few days and, if we go back a week, that number is substantially down,” he said.

“The case numbers jump around but the thing I’m more concerned about is that whether we have the capacity in our hospitals, especially as we ease those elective surgery bans.”

Mr Marshall said he was not expecting a big jump in hospitalisations as restrictions ease today.

“As people get those boosters into their arms, they’re less likely to contract the disease, they’re less likely to transmit the disease, but most importantly they’re less likely to get severe symptoms requiring hospitalisation.”

Police Commissioner makes vote vow

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has vowed South Australians with Covid and close contacts will be able to vote at the state election.

Mr Stevens said an announcement on voting arrangements was imminent after ongoing talks between police and the Electoral Commission this week.

He said another meeting would be held on Friday to discuss the issue.

“I can’t make any announcements at this point in time, but I’m reasonably confident that we’re on the right track to having a solution,” Mr Stevens told ABC Adelaide radio.

“People who are subjected to quarantine or isolation over the course of the voting period will have access to the voting system and be able to exercise the right to vote.”

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has vowed every South Australian will be able to vote. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

The state woke this morning to a significant easing of home density, fitness and hospitality restrictions.

People can now welcome 50 people into their homes and hospitality businesses will be able to operate at 75 per cent capacity in outdoor areas with stand up drinking.

Gyms now have a one person per 4 sqm density limit.

The changes come despite more than 1000 Covid cases still being recorded each day.

However, Mr Stevens dismissed the suggestion that the move to ease restrictions was politically motivated.

“I take advice from SA Health, we look at the economic impact of the restrictions, we look at small businesses and how they’re coping,” he said.

“The decision is made to manage Covid as we work through the Omicron variant being present in South Australia. There’s no political basis to this, there never has been and while I’m doing this job there won’t be.”

Claims PPE taken away from dentists

Health Services Union claims personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 masks and gowns, have been taken away from SA Dental staff.

The HSU is considering its options including taking the matter to the SA Employment Tribunal.

State secretary Billy Elrick was “outraged“ to learn the workers had lost access to PPE.

“I couldn’t think of a workplace that has more direct face-to-face contact than a dental clinic, these workers deserve the same protections afforded to other frontline workers,” he said.

“We already know of an employee of SA Dental who is currently in isolation after exposure to a positive patient through their workplace – to take away PPE while the outbreak is ongoing puts these workers at risk and is an appalling decision.

“The HSU is committed to taking all steps necessary to ensure workplaces are as safe as possible.”

A SA Dental spokesman said the organisation would continue to provide PPE to all staff in line with the required infection control measures and risk mitigation strategies depending on the situation in SA.

“During the Omicron wave, we implemented some early restrictions on the types and number of services provided and applied additional levels of PPE where the risk of Covid-19 transmission was likely to be higher,” he said.

“Over the last two months we have been fit-testing clinical staff for N95 or P2 masks, and from Monday staff will commence wearing N95 masks in clinical settings to provide an added level of protection.

“Staff in nonclinical areas such as reception will continue to be supplied with the required surgical mask and eye protection.”

Rapid Antigen Test surveillance testing is also provided to staff who provide dental services in high-risk settings such as acute hospitals, aged care facilities, prisons and vulnerable communities.

ADF head to Tanunda care home

Australian Defence Force personnel have been sent to a Tanunda aged care home to help staff provide care and protection of older residents.

The not-for-profit Tanunda Lutheran Home (TLH) owned by the Lutheran Church is South Australia’s largest aged care facility outside of metropolitan Adelaide.

TLH chief executive Lee Martin, said he and his team were proud that no resident at the facility contracted Covid-19 during the pandemic.

However, staff have had the disease or been close contacts, creating workload challenges.

“We have 120 residents in the facility, 120 residents in our retirement villages, 190 staff and 100 volunteers,” Mr Martin said. “We have qualified staff on duty 24/7.”

“Thank you to the Department of Health and especially the aged care professional groups LASA and ACSA for all working together to provide the assistance of the ADF members during this time of crisis.”

A team of nine ADF staff – four clinical staff and five general duty staff – will assist at the facility until February 15.

“The clinical ADF members will supervise TLH care staff, assess and monitor residents’ health and wellbeing, manage medications, complete dressings or special care tasks,” Mr Martin said.

“The general ADF staff will be assisting TLH staff in any non-clinical tasks.”

Mr Martin said it had been a “long road” to meet the requirements Covid-19 requirements of the aged care industry and he thanked residents, their families, staff and volunteers.

“I recognise that the staff are tired or currently suffering or recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 virus. Thank you all for your perseverance, professionalism and level of care provided to the TLH residents,” he said.

“We are thankful that our residents and staff are fully vaccinated and have had their booster shots as well.”

Originally published as Covid updates February 13, 2022: Two deaths but SA Covid numbers keep falling