A large number of South Australians are being urged to get a coronavirus test — even if they do not have symptoms — in the wake of an infected man leaving quarantine and visiting several shops and businesses in Adelaide last Sunday.
Key points:
- A man visited several locations across Adelaide while infectious
- Nicola Spurrier said the development was a "concerning turn of events"
- South Australians are urged to check the list of locations on SA Health's website and get tested
The man, aged in his 30s, is believed to have caught the virus as a casual contact at the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) at Flinders University.
SA Health said people who on Sunday, November 22, were at Big W Brickworks between 12:15pm and 12:50pm, Foodland at Norwood between 1:20pm and 2:00pm, and Kmart at Kurralta Park between 2:45pm and 3:00pm should urgently get a COVID-19 test.
People who were at the Flinders University Sturt Campus between November 13 and 28 are also urged to get tested.
All four locations are considered "high-risk".
South Australia's Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the new development was "a concerning turn of events".
"Those four locations we are considering at high risk — and we want anyone who's been there at those times and dates to get tested," Professor Spurrier said.
"We had enjoyed more or less eliminating this virus for several months."
Professor Spurrier said there was a lower risk for people who visited On the Run at Hilton, Anaconda at Mile End, Guzman y Gomez at Glandore and Boost Juice at Glenelg, but they still should monitor for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
She pointed people to SA Health's website for the complete list of locations, dates and times of concern.
Pop-up testing clinics will open this afternoon at Big W Brickworks and Kmart Kurralta Park.
In the past 24 hours, there have been no further cases linked to the Parafield cluster.
More than 2,000 people are emerging from quarantine, related to the cluster, after returning their second negative test and completing 14 days in isolation.
Yesterday, IELI director Ben Rowley issued a statement after the student was confirmed to have coronavirus.
Mr Rowley said the school had encouraged all pupils to isolate after a student tested positive on November 17.
He said the school was working closely with SA Health to aid contact tracing efforts.
"We have reached out to SA Health to offer our assistance in contacting anyone from the IELI community to help speed up contact tracing efforts," he said.
Eased restrictions still going ahead
Despite the "concerning" development, Professor Spurrier indicated the planned easing of restrictions is still set to go ahead this Tuesday.
"As you know on Tuesday, we are lifting restrictions somewhat," Professor Spurrier said.
"Private functions of 150 people, and that might include weddings … are able to proceed.
"What I'm asking is that organisers of those functions again update themselves on a regular basis … make sure they have a clear idea of what the areas of concerns are in South Australia, and ask everybody who is attending — all your invitees — 'Have they been to any of those locations?'."
She said she would keep encouraging mask-wearing in the general public, "as that is one way we can keep everybody safe", but it was still would not be compulsory.
However, masks will now be mandated in high-risk settings such as aged care facilities, GP clinics and allied health.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTExLTI5L3NhLWlzc3Vlcy1saXN0LW9mLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWhvdHNwb3RzLWluZmVjdGVkLW1hbi12aXNpdGVkLzEyOTMyNDM40gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyOTMyNDM4?oc=5
2020-11-29 02:13:00Z
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