South Australia has recorded a drop in new cases and hospitalisations for COVID-19, despite an increase in testing.

Key points:

  • SA has recorded 4,079 new COVID cases
  • Three people, aged from their 60s to their 90s, have died
  • The state has its lowest number of active cases since March 25

However, three people with COVID have died — a man in his 60s, and a man and woman in their 90s.

The 4,079 new cases recorded today is 177 fewer than yesterday and 1,319 fewer than recorded last Thursday.

There are 241 people in hospital, 11 less than yesterday.

There are 11 people in intensive care and three on a ventilator.

Active case numbers have also dropped slightly to 28,276 – the lowest number of active cases in almost a month.

Nearly 13,000 people received a PCR test yesterday, which is an 8.2 per cent increase on the previous 24 hours. 

SA Health has expanded the Bedford Park COVID-19 testing site in Adelaide’s south, to allow double the amount of drive-through access.

The expansion was timed with the closure of the nearby Repat site, which will cease to operate from tomorrow due to infrastructure works.

South Australia’s Emergency Coordinator, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, said isolation rules for close contacts of positive COVID cases will be scrapped “sooner rather than later”.

Victoria and New South Wales have scrapped isolation requirements for close contacts — provided they felt well and tested negative on rapid antigen tests.

Mr Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide this morning that close contact rules were “already under review” and the cabinet sub-committee meeting scheduled for next Tuesday could be fast-tracked if needed.

“I’ve advised the Premier that the nature of a global pandemic is quite dynamic and whilst I certainly support the Emergency Management Council meeting format as a cabinet sub-committee, there needs to be the ability to be agile at the same time so if there’s a need for a meeting, then we need to be able to enable that meeting to occur,” he said.

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Easing COVID-19 rules raises questions about testing regimes and mask mandates

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