South Australia has recorded 73 new coronavirus infections amid a growing outbreak, posting record numbers for the second consecutive day.
On Friday the state recorded 64 cases, a brief all-time high for the state’s daily case total that was eclipsed within 24 hours.
The first case of the outbreak was reported on November 24, and since then there have been 293 more cases recorded.
SA’s new cases contributed to a record total of 4,110 Covid infections reported across Australia on Saturday.
South Australia has recorded 73 new coronavirus infections amid a growing outbreak, posting record numbers for the second consecutive day
The first case of the outbreak was reported on November 24, and since then there have been 293 more cases recorded
Prior to the outbreak South Australia had recorded less than a thousand cases throughout the entire pandemic, and now has a total of 1,216.
The new cases include 11 children and two teenagers along with 60 adults aged between 18 and 74.
One acquired their infection overseas and 29 others from known positive cases in South Australia.
Two became infected interstate, four caught coronavirus in South Australia but authorities don’t know where or who from, and 37 other cases are still being investigated.
Two men, one in his 30s, the other his 60s, are in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The state announced on Friday it would relax restrictions, removing density restrictions and expanding capacity for indoor venues as well as gyms and nightclubs when the state reaches 90 per cent full vaccination rates, expected on December 28.
Prior to the outbreak South Australia had recorded less than a thousand cases throughout the entire pandemic, and now has a total of 1216
Australia has recorded more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day for the first time
One acquired their infection overseas and 29 others from known positive cases in South Australia
Close to 20,000 South Australians came forward for testing on Friday amid current outbreak
South Australia’s double dose vaccination rate for adults is currently 85.9 per cent.
Close to 20,000 South Australians came forward for testing on Friday.
The Elizabeth South COVID-19 drive-through testing site will be extending opening hours to 8am-11pm, seven days a week, to give more people a chance to get tested.
South Australia’s double dose vaccination rate for adults is currently 85.9 per cent
There are also a number of close contact exposure sites in restaurants, cafes and gyms in Adelaide, Eastwood, Magill, Prospect, Stepney, and Windsor Gardens.
A full list of exposure locations and type is available on the SA Health website.
Meanwhile Australia has recorded more than 4000 COVID-19 cases in a single day for the first time.
News come amid Christmas seasons celebrations that see friends and family gathering together
The unwanted record of 4110 infections nationwide comes just two days after the 3000-case mark was surpassed.
There are now almost 247,000 active cases across the country in total although only 110 virus patients are receiving intensive hospital care.
NSW posted 2482 new infections on Saturday, the most in a single day for any Australian state or territory since the pandemic began.
There are now almost 247,000 active cases across the country in total although only 110 virus patients are receiving intensive hospital care
Victoria added 1504 cases along with seven virus-related deaths, and while numbers are low by comparison in other jurisdictions, they are beginning to climb.
Despite this, authorities say there will be more than enough COVID-19 vaccine to meet demand for boosters and for when children are eligible to receive the jab.
Vaccine providers have been advised to offer some flexibility over Christmas.
However the gap between second and subsequent shots will remain at five months, with the country’s leading immunisation advisory group, ATAGI, saying the timetable for them won’t be brought forward.
NSW posted 2482 new infections on Saturday, the most in a single day for any Australian state or territory since the pandemic began
Vaccine providers have been advised to offer some flexibility over booster-shot waiter periods in the lead up to Christmas
“They are the medical experts who decide those things, that is their job, to make the medical determinations about what the appropriate period is between a booster shot and the second vaccine,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Hobart on Saturday.
“Now I know that that is under constant review, I know that they are looking at different timeframes but at this point, they’ve decided not to do that.”
The head of Australia’s vaccine rollout Lieutenant-General John Frewen says more than four million people will be eligible for boosters by year’s end, rising to seven million in January and 11 million in February.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters that Covid booster waiting periods were decided by medical experts
So far, more than a million Australians have received a third jab.
An extra 2.3 million people will also be able to receive the vaccine from January when five- to 11-year-olds become eligible.
However Lt-Gen Frewen says there won’t be difficulty with supply.
So far, more than a million Australians have received a booster shot or ‘third jab’ in the hopes of a vaccinated Christmas
While the Omicron variant continues to surge, states continue to ease restrictions.
NSW and Victoria will no longer require international arrivals to isolate for 72 hours upon arrival.
Fully vaccinated travellers will instead be required to get a test within 24 hours of landing and isolate until they get a negative result.
Fully vaccinated travellers international travellers in NSW and Victoria will instead be required to get a test within 24 hours of landing and isolate until they get a negative result
Saturday’s record case numbers in NSW eclipsed the previous mark of 2297 set by Victoria on October 14.
South Australia posted a second consecutive state record with 73 cases, Queensland recorded 31 and the ACT 18.
Even so, Mr Morrison warned living with the virus under the national plan was not about case numbers.
Despite the new records Mr Morrison warned living with the virus under the national plan was not about case numbers
“We need to be careful in how we talk about case numbers. We’re not going to alarm people on case numbers,” he said.
“What matters is hospitalisations, ICU, people on ventilators and severe illness.”
Tasmania confirmed a fourth case after reopening its border to fully vaccinated travellers on Wednesday.
With cases leaking into the island state and Queensland, Western Australia is tightening its border to both.
From Monday, it will reintroduce a hard border to Queensland and force visitors from Tasmania to enter 14 days’ quarantine.
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