South Australia goes on COVID-19 testing blitz after infected man breaches quarantine

People who attended a number of popular shopping centres in Adelaide are being asked to get tested even if they don't have symptoms.

The Adelaide CBD>

Anybody who visited Adelaide's Intensive English Language Institute between 13 and 28 November has been told to self-quarantine. Source: AAP

Visitors to a number of popular shopping centres in suburban Adelaide are being asked to get tested for COVID-19 immediately, after a man with the virus breached quarantine.

Pop-up testing clinics will be operating at two supermarkets at the centre of the breach from Sunday afternoon.

There are no new cases recorded in the state but chief health officer Nicola Spurrier says she is disappointed with the man's actions.

"When I spoke yesterday my initial understanding was that the case was in quarantine and certainly they were considered a casual contact at the Intensive English Language Institute," she said on Sunday.

"But unfortunately they did not spend the whole time in quarantine and at one point they were out and about on one particular day."


People who on Sunday, 22 November visited Big W Brickworks, Torrensville (12.15 pm - 12.50 pm), Foodland Norwood (1.20 pm - 2 pm) and Kmart, Kurralta Park (2.45 pm -3.10 pm) are being asked to get tested as soon as possible.

 

The man visited a number of other locations for a shorter period and those there at the same time are being asked to get tested if they have symptoms: On The Run, Hilton (12.05 pm - 12.15 pm), Anaconda, Mile End (12.55 pm - 1.05 pm), Guzman y Gomez, Glandore (2.45 pm - 2.50 pm) and Glenelg Boost Juice Shop (3.20 pm - 3.30pm).

 

The clinics will be operating at Kmart Kurralta Park and the Big W Brickworks for as long as necessary.

 

Health officials will work with businesses and use credit card details and loyalty program information to assist with the testing effort.

 

The planned increase of gatherings to 150 guests will go ahead as planned on Tuesday, but Professor Spurrier is asking hosts and venue owners to tell those who may be at risk to stay at home if they haven't returned a negative test.
Masks will also be mandatory in health care facilities from Tuesday onwards.

They remain recommended for the general public.

Earlier South Australian authorities issued a quarantine alert for people who attended the Intensive English Language Institute at Flinders University between 13-28 November.

Anybody who visited the Adelaide campus and those in their immediate household must self-quarantine for 14 days under the health department directions.

Authorities are also asking anybody who visited the Flinders University Sturt Campus over the same time to get tested as soon as possible.
The directive follows the identification of a man in his 30s on Saturday who contracted the virus while attending a class at the institute.

He and a child from the original family at the centre of Adelaide's Parafield cluster were SA's two newly diagnosed cases announced.

The child was already in quarantine and posed no risk to the public, Professor Spurrier said.

She said the student and his family were also in quarantine before testing positive but his infection validated the decision to ask casual contacts to self-isolate.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.

If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

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4 min read
Published 29 November 2020 12:21pm
Updated 29 November 2020 6:34pm
Source: AAP, SBS



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