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.
“It is not more dangerous than previous iterations, but it can cause the number of cases to increase.
“This is a function of increased transmissibility, but it is also related to immune leakage issues that are yet to be determined and science is currently evolving.”
He said SA Health was monitoring the situation and would 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.
The rule was removed on Saturday after Australia’s Main Health Protection Committee said masks were no longer mandatory at airport terminals, but were strongly recommended.
Masks are still required on board aircraft.
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Posted 1 hour, 1 hour ago, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 3:07 AM, updated 17 m ago, 17 minutes ago, Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 4:11 AM