Aged care facilities across South Australia are now in lockdown, as the state begins a six day shutdown in an attempt to contain a second wave of COVID-19 cases.
The entire state went into lockdown at midnight, as two more COVID-19 cases were confirmed to have been linked to the growing cluster in Adelaide’s north.
There are now 22 cases linked to the cluster, and health authorities are expecting more to be confirmed today.
South Australians have been advised to stay at home for the next six days unless they are travelling for essential services, such as grocery shopping or medical appointments, or are an essential worker.
SA Premier Steven Marshall described the six-day shutdown as a “circuit breaker” to ensure the state can get on top of the outbreak.
“We need breathing space for a contact tracing blitz to protect the elderly, to protect the vulnerable, to protect our entire community,” the Premier said.
“There is no second chance to stop a second wave. We are at a critical point, but we will get through this.”
The state’s Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said a hard lockdown was the only way to avoid a second wave like that experienced in Victoria.
“If we leave this any longer… then we’re going to be in this for the long haul and we will be like the experience in Victoria, where we get increasing cases every single day, and we have to go into a significant lockdown for a very long period of time to snuff it out and to get rid of every last bit of community transmission,” she said.
