South Australia has reported 11 COVID-19-related deaths with the number of Premier Warning cases could rise after a new subvariant was detected in the state.
Key points:
- SA has registered 2,270 new cases of COVID and 11 deaths related to COVID
- A new subvariant, which has been detected interstate, has now been reported in SA
- No further changes will be made to the COVID standards of SA
Prime Minister Peter Malinauskas confirmed that the BA.5 subvariant has been identified in the state after being found in New South Wales and Victoria.
“Case numbers may increase over the next six to eight weeks pending the new BA.5 variant to pass through South Australia,” he said.
“The information presented to us this morning indicates that in New South Wales, the numbers of BA.5 variants have increased dramatically.”
Public health director Nicola Spurrier said complacency could be a killer.
“The pandemic is not over yet, it is still very active,” he said.
Spurrier said it was “difficult to estimate” the severity of BA.5, but authorities expect it to be no worse than previous strains.
“We expect some immunity from previous infection and vaccination,” he said.
The new modeling shows that COVID figures are expected to increase next week and peak around July 12 with an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 cases.
SA Health would monitor the situation and publish more models.
A 40-year-old woman is among the 11 new deaths and 2,270 new cases have been reported today.
The deaths occurred between February 26 and Sunday, but were only announced today by SA Health.
Masks are no longer needed at Adelaide Airport. (ABC News: Candice Prosser)
The state’s Emergency Management Council met this morning to discuss the easing of quarantine requirements for positive people with COVID, but no further changes have been made to the restrictions.
Vaccination warrant requirements for allied health workers were also considered, but remain unchanged.
The last restriction to relieve was the requirement to wear masks at Adelaide Airport.
Masks are still required on board aircraft.
You will take COVID: Picton again
With an increase in flu cases in addition to COVID, Health Minister Chris Picton has relaunched the “emergency campaign” to try to free more beds.
Mr Picton says non-urgent elective surgery will be reduced and 28 private hospital beds will be accessible to public patients.
Health Minister Chris Picton and Public Health Director Nicola Spurrier warn against complacency. (ABC News)
“The health care system is under extreme pressure right now,” he said.
“The truth is, we just don’t have enough open hospital beds, so we’re looking for private and peri-urban health beds to free up capacity in the system.”
He said now was not the time for people to be pleased.
“Just because you’ve had COVID, don’t feel invincible, you’ll get COVID back, especially with new varieties.”
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Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 3:07 AM, updated 19 minutes ago, 19 minutes ago, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 5:26 AM