A raft of measures that will ease pressure on testing sites and further protect South Australians as we safely transition to the next phase of the Marshall Liberal Government's strong COVID-Ready plan have been announced today.
These measures include:
- INTERSTATE arrivals who have a negative test result and do not have symptoms prior to arrival will no longer need to be tested upon arrival in South Australia
- HIGHLIGHTING the availability of the testing site booking system available at 12 sites in both metro and regional area
- STRONGLY advocating to National Cabinet tomorrow that booster shots should be brought forward from five months to four months
- ADVISE that the State Government is closely considering when Rapid Antigen Tests will be available to the general public for surveillance testing only
Premier Steven Marshall said he was very grateful to all South Australians who have gone and got tested over recent weeks.
"We appreciate there has been some frustration over long waits for COVID testing wait times. This is a common occurrence all over Australia at the moment and I'm pleased to be able to advise we can now safely move to easing that pressure at our testing facilities throughout the state," Premier Marshall said.
"We have received advice from SA Pathology and SA Health that it is now appropriate to focus our testing efforts on South Australians with symptoms, close contacts and any other people directed by SA Health, rather than asymptomatic interstate arrivals who have recently returned a negative test.
"This will free-up resources which can be concentrated on South Australians getting tested. Interstate arrivals with symptoms must still get tested immediately upon arrival into South Australia."
South Australians are also advised to book ahead of arrival at a testing site to lessen wait times.
Sites that have an online booking system are:
- Victoria Park,
- Bedford Park,
- Berri (two sites),
- Ceduna,
- Coober Pedy,
- Elizabeth South,
- Mount Gambier,
- Port Adelaide,
- Regency Park,
- Ridgehaven Waterworld; and
- the SA Pathology traveller clinic.
Premier Marshall will also strongly advocate at National Cabinet tomorrow that the wait time for booster shots should be brought forward from five months to four months.
"We welcomed the advice to bring forward the booster shots from six months to five months and we now are advocating for that to be a period of four months from the second dose.
"We are also actively considering when it will be appropriate for Rapid Antigen Testing to become more widely in use within South Australia
