Covid SA: Cluster grows as second wave fears escalate

South Australia’s coronavirus cluster has grown further as health authorities desperately try and curtail the spread of Covid-19 within the community after more than half a year without local transmission.

Health Minister Stephen Wade told ABC News Breakfast there were now 20 cases after the state’s first locally acquired cases since April were announced on Sunday.

“We don’t know what will come but let’s put it this way, we’re very encouraged by the testing,” he said.

Mr Wade said 17 of the infections were family members, two were security guards who worked at the medi-hotel where one of the family members work while one is a close contact of the family.

Virus likely spread from surface

He said early investigations indicated there was no breach at the medi-hotel where one of the family members, a 50-year-old woman, is believed to have contracted the virus.

“We need to remember that COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease,” he said, suggesting it was likely she caught the virus from a surface inside the hotel.

“Even highly trained health professionals with full PPE in an acute hospital environment have contracted the virus. We know that the COVID-19 can be transmitted through surface infections."

The cleaner had no contact with guests in the hotel.

“So usually this is transmitted with droplets, aerosol droplets, this time we believe it came from a hard surface,” Premier Steven Marshall told Channel Nine’s Today show.

The Parafield family cluster includes a one-year-old baby and three children.

More than 40 locations have been identified as being linked to the Parafield cluster as SA Health urge residents to monitor for symptoms.

On Monday afternoon, Premier Steven Marshall returned some of the state’s coronavirus restrictions as the SA government scrambles to get on top of the “very dangerous situation”.

From Tuesday all gyms, recreation centres and play cafes are closed for two weeks with community sports fixtures and training cancelled.

The outbreak stood at 17 on Monday.

Care home rocked by infections

There are four cases linked to an Anglicare aged care home in Brompton, which Anglicare SA CEO Peter Sandeman described as “the worst nightmare”.

All four are workers at the facility.

"If any resident tests positive they will be removed to hospital straight away," he told Today.

There have been lengthy queues at testing centres across Adelaide as residents respond to the news that has rocked the city after months of eradication within the community.

On Tuesday, federal Deputy Chief Health Officer Michael Kidd urged people in South Australia to wear masks when they leave their homes.

“Especially if they're going on public transport or into situations where they may not be able to physically distance from other people,” he told ABC Breakfast.

On Tuesday the Department of Education announced Mawson Lakes School and Preschool will close until November 30.

Locations infected people spent time at:

SA Health is urging anyone who visited the following locations or travelled on the following bus routes to monitor for the slightest of symptoms and get tested immediately if they arise.

Adelaide

Bus 502 from Internode Adeladie Bus Stop on Grenfell Street

• Friday 13 November 4.01 pm – 5.30 pm

• Thursday 12 November 4.30 pm – 5.30 pm

• Monday 9 November 10.14am – 11.05 am

Bus (GA1/GA2/GA3) from Bus Stop near train station

• Tuesday 10 November 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm

• Wednesday 11 November 3.40 pm — 4.38 pm

• Saturday 7 November 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Mantra on Frome

• Friday 13 November 7.40 am – 3.45pm

• Thursday 12 November 7.30 am – 4.00 pm

It’s Convenient, 63 Waymouth St, Adelaide

• Saturday 14 November 6.00 pm – 6.15 pm

Eastwood

Adelaide Eye and Laser Centre, 215 Greenhill Road

• Friday 13 November 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

Edinburgh

SA Structural, 54 Kaurna Avenue

• Thursday 12 November 7.00am – 3.30 pm

Elizabeth

Big W Elizabeth Shopping Centre

• Saturday 14 November 10.00 am – 11.00 am

Elizabeth Shopping Centre

• Sunday 8 November 11.00 am – 12.30 pm

Harris Scarfe Elizabeth Shopping Centre

• Sunday 8 November 11.00 am – 12.30 pm

The Aquadome, 1 Crockerton Road

• Saturday 14 November 11.00 am – 1.30 pm

Enfield

Ekam Indian Groceries, Enfield Plaza

• Friday 13 November 1.30 pm – 4.30 pm

Findon

Woolworths Findon Road

• Saturday 14 November 8.30 pm – 8.35 pm

Fulham Gardens

Fulham Gardens Community Centre - Festival of Lights function

• Sunday 8 November

Gepps Cross

Spotlight, 750 Main North Road

• Thursday 12 November 8.30 pm – 7.00 pm

Ingle Farm

Coles South Ingle Farm Shopping Centre

• Thursday 12 November 11.00 am – 11.30 am

Kurralta Park

Coles Anzac Highway

• Friday 13 November 8.30 pm – 8.50 pm

Mawson Lakes

Foodland Capital Street

• Saturday 14 November 1.30 pm – 2.00 pm

Mint Leaf Lounge Mawson Lakes Boulevard

• Thursday 12 November 5.30 pm – 6.30 pm

Parafield Gardens

Martins Road Family Medical Centre

• Monday 9 November 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm

Parafield Plaza Supermarket

• Thursday 12 November 10.30 am – 11.30 am

Pooraka

On the Run Bridge Road

• Thursday 12 November 11.35 am – 11.40 am

Port Adelaide

Hungry Jacks Commercial Road

• Saturday 14 November 12.00 am – 2.30 am

• Friday 13 November 7.30 pm – 12.00 am

Salisbury

Bus 405 Salisbury Bus Interchange

• Monday 9 November 11.06 am – 12.00 pm

Bus 411 Salisbury Bus Interchange

• Wednesday 11 November 4.30 pm – 5.30 pm

Bus 500 Salisbury Bus Interchange

• Friday 13 November 6.40 am – 7.40 am

• Thursday 12 November 6.30 am – 7.40 am

• Wednesday 11 November 6.38 am – 7.30 am

• Tuesday 10 November 6.30 am – 7.40 am

• Monday 9 November 6.39 am – 7.40 am

Namaste Supermarket

• Saturday 14 November 1.30 pm – 2.00 pm
  

Salisbury Bus Interchange

• Monday 9 November 11.30 am – 12.00 pm

• Saturday 7 November 6.30 pm

Salisbury City Fruitbowl

• Friday 13 November 10.00 am – 10.15am

Salisbury Downs

Hollywood Plaza Surgery

• Saturday 14 November 10.00 am – 11.00 am

• Friday 13 November 7.15am – 7.20 am

McDonald’s Hollywood Plaza

• Friday 13 November 10.00 am – 11.00 am

Star Discount Chemist, Hollywood Plaza Surgery

• Saturday 14 November 10.00 am – 11.00 am

• Tuesday 10 November 7.30 pm – 7.45 pm

Target Hollywood Plaza

• Thursday 12 November 12.00 pm – 1.30 pm
  

Woolworths Hollywood Plaza

• Saturday 14 November 10.00 am – 11.00 am

• Friday 13 November 10.00 am – 12.00 pm

• Thursday 12 November 12.00 pm – 1.30

South Plympton

Jai Shiv Fruit Shop Marion Road

• Saturday 14 November 8.00 pm – 8.05 pm

Woodville South

Woodville Pizza Bar Woodville Road

• Saturday 14 November 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm

• Friday 13 November 6.30 pm – 8.30 pm

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