COVID-19 update 6 January 2023

06 January 2023

COVID Cases in SA

There have been 4,954 new cases of COVID-19 reported in South Australia in the past week.

As of 11:59pm Thursday 5 January, 185 people with COVID-19 in hospital, including 10 in ICU and one ventilated.

Of those hospitalised, 141 people had received three or more vaccine doses, 38 people were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and six had an unknown vaccination status.

There were 20 COVID-19 deaths notified in the past week, the ages range from people in their 50s to 100s, including four deaths in people aged under 70 years. Deaths may not have occurred in the week in which they were reported.

Please note that due to a reconfiguration of the data, the total number of cases has been readjusted.

Total case breakdown

{​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​{​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​table.title}​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​}​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​This week Previous week
New cases 4,954 7,671
Total cases 866,642 862,043
Total deaths 1,170* 1,155

*Five deaths have been removed from the total due to previously reported deaths found to be unrelated to COVID-19

Variants

The latest genome sampling has found 33.7% of samples analysed were BA.5 and related variants (of which 62.9% is B.Q.1), 34.6% were BA.2 and related variants (of which 95.8% is BA.2.75 and 4.2% is XBB). Other recombinant types made up 30.8% of the total variants (of which 77.3% were the XBF recombinant variant). No BA.4 related variants were detected.

COVID testing

In the past week, 17,528 people received a PCR test in South Australia, a 10% decrease on the previous week. Of the test results returned, 2,476 PCR tests were positive, 2,478 positive Rapid Antigen Test results were reported.

Vaccination update

Currently 96.6% of eligible South Australians aged 12+ have received their first dose of the vaccine and 94.6% have received their second dose. Boosters have been administered to 75.6% of eligible South Australians and 71.7% of South Australians aged 16+.

COVID testing sites

From Monday 9 January, SA Health COVID-19 testing sites at Bedford Park, Walkley Heights, Port Adelaide, Frome Road and some regional sites will remain open. PCR testing will be available at these sites without a GP referral. 

GP Respiratory Clinics will also continue to operate in metropolitan and regional areas. Go to SA Health Covid Testing for more information.

RAT eligibility

 Free RATs will continue to be available at collection sites for:

  • people with disability or who are immunocompromised
  • a carer of someone with a disability or who is immunocompromised
  • concession card holders (including Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and Department of Veterans Affairs Concession Card) 

 Eligible people can collect five free tests.

You do not need to register before collecting free RATs but will be required to show your eligible concession card. If you are living with disability or immunocompromised, you or your carer need to advise at the Collection Point. You do not need to provide your name or personal details.

People who are not eligible for free RATs can purchase them from participating pharmacies and retail outlets.

Hot weather

COVID-19 testing sites and RAT Collection Points will have updated operating hours this weekend due to the hot weather forecast.

Go to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidtesting to check opening hours, allow extra time to get tested and take water with you.

If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible.

For more information, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVID-19