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SYDNEY – The state of South Australia announced on Wednesday (November 18) a six-day “circuit breaker” lockout starting at midnight as authorities scrambled to contain a sudden COVID-19 cluster in the city of Adelaide.
Stay-at-home orders were issued for residents across the state, after a cluster of 22 cases began at a hotel used to quarantine foreign travelers.
“We’re going hard and we’re going early. Time is of the essence and we must act quickly and decisively. We can’t wait to see how bad this gets,” said State Prime Minister Steven Marshall.
All schools, takeaways, pubs, cafes and universities will be closed. Regional travel is also not approved, Marshall said.
READ: Australia rushes to contain a new COVID-19 cluster
“We need this circuit breaker, this community pause. This is a pause in South Australia for us to stay ahead of the virus,” he said.
The possibility of people leaving their homes will be restricted and only one person per household will be allowed to leave each day, but only for specific purposes.
Masks will be required in all areas outside the home.
Residential facilities for the elderly and disabled, some of the most vulnerable to the coronavirus, will be closed. Weddings and funerals will be banned, along with open real estate auctions and outdoor exercises. Factories other than food and medical products will be closed.
VIRUS STRAIN IN NEW CASES “VERY CONTAGIOUS”
The virus strain in the new cases was “highly contagious with a short incubation period and limited symptoms,” he said.
“We have an opportunity, an opportunity, and we will dedicate all our resources to it because we know the consequences of doing it wrong,” Marshall said.
READ: COVID-19: Australia removes plans to allow foreign students to return
Epidemiologists weren’t sure whether it was a genetically mutated virus strain.
“I have not seen any official genetic data to suggest it is a new strain,” said Professor Raina MacIntyre, director of the biosafety program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales.
The short incubation period “doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a new strain,” he said.
“Sometimes when you get a very, very high dose of the virus, you get sick sooner. It could just be that.”
The South Australian state government did not immediately respond to Reuters questions about the specific strain.
READ: Australia ‘victim’ of COVID-19’s own success as more locals want to return: Minister
The latest outbreak is related to an Australian who arrived in the state capital Adelaide from abroad on November 2 and entered mandatory quarantine in a hotel. Hotel workers are believed to have contracted the virus after touching a contaminated surface.
“This outbreak started in a hotel from an overseas arrival. So it will have come from the United States, Europe, India or some other place, so this is not a new strain,” said Peter Collignon, infectious disease physician. and a microbiologist from Canberra. Hospital.
“It may be different from what has prevailed in Australia, but it is no more deadly or contagious.”
South Australia had been without local transmission since October 31. Now he has had a total of just 551 cases.
Elsewhere, Victoria state, which was the epicenter of Australia’s nearly 28,000 cases until last month, recorded its 19th consecutive day of zero new cases.
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