South Australia is waking to the second round of significant COVID-19 restrictions, as health authorities work to contain a cluster in Adelaide's northern suburbs.
Key points:
- South Australia is subject to sweeping new coronavirus restrictions
- Resident have queued to get tested as authorities scramble to contain the outbreak
- There is concern people had become complacent about social distancing
After months without a case of community transmission, Premier Steven Marshall yesterday announced sweeping new restrictions for the next two weeks, including the closure of gyms, and caps on private gatherings and funerals.
"We are facing our biggest test to date," Mr Marshall said.
He confirmed that effort would be bolstered by the Australian Defence Force, who will be sent to SA to assist.
Testing rates had declined in recent weeks as South Australia had a run of new cases limited to returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
SA Health said the latest cluster began when a medi-hotel employee contracted the virus and spread it to their extended family.
Seventeen cases had been confirmed on Monday evening.
Questions raised over hotel quarantine system
Infectious Diseases expert Professor Peter Collignon, said the medi-hotel system had been effective in stopping the spread of the virus quickly through the community.
"Before hotel quarantine became mandatory and a reasonable proportion were infected, people weren't staying where they were supposed to be," Professor Collignon said.
"It has decreased the spread ... the real issue is not the people in the quarantine hotel but making sure the people there keep a safe distance from workers and there are appropriate systems in place".
He said he was confident the cluster would be controlled quickly, given the state's contact tracing system and testing regime.
In the past 24 hours, new testing stations have been mobilised, operating hours have been extended and people have been flocking to get the COVID-19 test.
The ABC asked South Australians about their attitudes now that this cluster had been identified.
"Do you think you, or others around you, got a little relaxed about social distancing and hand hygiene? Or have you continued to be cautious since the outbreak earlier this year?"
Here's what they said.
I’m cautious, I’m concerned, I have been practicing the socially distancing, wearing an mask and sanitising my hands. You just won’t believe the number of people who just don’t care and don’t practice the three.
Jo R
I think it's natural for people's precautions to have slipped during this long period of no new local cases. What's important is that we can fully engage with them again now that we need to.
I believe the government has been preparing for this eventuality, and in the back of our minds, we all knew the virus could reappear.
Kieran B
Definitely believe we were all getting complacent. So many believed it wouldn't affect us/come here and that the hotel quarantine was working. Definitely went out and about without worrying about anything and could tell others were the same contact details: Still not overly worried as it feels like only something to worry about if you went to the affected locations
Bec L
When asked about new precautions, some said they had made immediate changes to their routines.
Having heard this morning's news I will return to shopping only on the quietest days of the week, and sanitising anything I bring into the house from outside. I'll go back to avoiding handshakes and hugs :(
Matthew L
Adelaide has immediately snapped into action - every second person I see is wearing a facemask, myself and many of my friends have been sent to work from home effective immediately, and the government has taken drastic measures at short notice. It isn't a nice feeling, but I'm hopeful that we can all work together to nip this in the bud!
Xavier B
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiY2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTExLTE3L3NhLWVudGVycy1zZWNvbmQtY29taW5nLW9mLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLXJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy8xMjg4OTIzMtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjg4OTIzMg?oc=5
2020-11-16 20:25:00Z
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