The legal challenge launched by benched footballer Deni Varnhagen against South Australia’s vaccine mandate has been pushed back for two weeks because of COVID-19, as the state records 3,121 new cases of the virus.

Key points:

  • State Government’s legal team are isolating as close contacts of a positive case
  • The case has been delayed by two weeks
  • Lawyers for Deni Varnhagen fear she will be robbed of her “day in court”

The Supreme Court heard on Monday that the state’s legal team has been struck by family close contact rules and the Solicitor General is also awaiting PCR results.

AFLW player and nurse Deni Varnhagen is among four government workers challenging the SA Government’s COVID vaccine mandates.

Simon Ower QC, who is representing the four government workers, told the court that his team has no choice but to accept the delay.

“We can’t oppose, but it should be noted that at all times we have sought this litigation to be heard as a matter of urgency,” Mr Ower said.

“There is some concern that if this adjournment is granted, the litigation will have no utility in that the State Coordinator is on the record to say that he may not be expanding the state declaration emergency beyond the 2nd of April,” Mr Ower said.

He said the possible review of the emergency declaration will effectively “rob his clients’ day in court”.

Once the declaration ends, COVID vaccinate mandates will effectively disappear.

It comes as the state recorded another 3,121 COVID cases on Monday, a slight decline on yesterday’s numbers.

No new deaths have been reported.

There are 150 people with COVID-19 in hospital, including nine in intensive care.