South Australia is facing the onset of a new wave of COVID-19, as indicated by the latest health data showing a 55% increase in cases over the past week. The state recorded 1,691 new cases, up from 1,069 the previous week. As of the latest count, 36 individuals are hospitalized due to the virus.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier, addressing a parliamentary committee on the state’s COVID-19 management, clarified that the increase in cases is not attributed to the Pirola variant, which has been recently detected. The majority of cases are still linked to the XBB variant, and the surge is largely due to the waning immunity among the population.
Professor Spurrier anticipates another wave of infections in approximately six months and stresses the importance of booster shots, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with chronic health conditions, and First Nations people. She recommends another vaccine for those who haven’t had an infection in the past six months to help control the spread during future waves.
In a broader reflection on South Australia’s public health response to the pandemic over the past four years, Professor Spurrier expressed confidence in the decisions made and pride in the outcomes achieved, stating that many have been spared severe disease or the loss of loved ones.
The discussion also touched on the issue of ambulance ramping, with new data showing a slight increase in ramping hours at Adelaide hospital emergency departments. Health Minister Chris Picton pointed to a general trend of improvement over the past six months, despite the opposition’s criticism of the current government’s handling of the issue.
Ambulance response times have worsened, with a decrease in the percentage of urgent calls responded to within the recommended timeframes. Fixing the ramping crisis was a key election promise of the current government, and the opposition spokesperson Ashton Hurn criticized the lack of progress, stating that ramping has never been worse under the current administration.
As South Australia navigates this new wave of COVID-19, the focus remains on vaccination efforts and managing healthcare system pressures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.