South Australia has recorded its highest daily total of new COVID-19 cases in almost two months, two days after the Adelaide Cup long weekend.
Key points:
- The number of new COVID-19 cases is the highest since January 20
- No new deaths have been recorded
- Leaders are reluctant to set a date for removing masks
A total of 3,122 people have tested positive for the virus, taking the total number of active cases to 17,654.
It is an increase of 742 cases on the previous day and the highest daily total since January 20, when 3,777 people tested positive.
Hospitalisations are up slightly to 136; 10 of those are in intensive care and two are on ventilators.
There were no deaths reported today.
COVID-19 numbers regularly spike on Wednesdays, following transmissions over weekends.
Monday was the Adelaide Cup public holiday in South Australia, the peak of the festival season, with the music festival Womadelaide being held from Friday to Monday as part of the Adelaide Festival.
The state’s COVID Ready Committee met yesterday but no changes were made to mask or close contact rules.
Masks are compulsory in indoor public spaces in South Australia.
Close contacts must quarantine for 14 days if someone who lives with them tests positive and cannot isolate within the house.
Masks to stay but close contact rules may change
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, who signs off on COVID-19 directions, said it was “not fair for me to speculate on time frames” for changing the rules to be more lenient like those interstate.
“I do see a bit of fatigue around in terms of people’s commitment to wearing masks and some of the social distancing requirements but, overall, things are looking pretty good, so if we keep going the way we’re going, I think it’s sooner than later, but I wouldn’t speculate exactly when,” he said.
Premier Steven Marshall suggested the close contact rules for family members could be reduced in the coming days.
“We are going to be revising down the status for family arrangements — currently set at 14 days — so we will announce that in the coming days,” he said.
However, he said face masks were here to stay for now.
“We obviously removed the vast majority of the public health social measures on Saturday in South Australia,” he said.
“We do want to have a couple of day to see what the results are. We are seeing a fairly substantial increase in NSW.”
Australian Medical Association national vice-president Chris Moy said mask-wearing should also be the last restriction to go.
“I think it then gives people the impression that it’s over and we are talking about the fact that the infection is still out there, and we are talking about a dangerous infection,” Dr Moy said.
SA Police said 100 were issued a caution notice, while 92 others were provided education over mask compliance issues on public transport during Operation Cover last month.
Four more were issued a $1,000 fine.
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