Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Update #16

Due to a number of cases associated with Adelaide Airport, it is now recommended to test persons with a COVID-19 compatible illness who have been in the airport in the 14 days prior to illness onset.

Testing recommendations for South Australia:

  • Test for SARS-CoV-2 in anyone meeting the epidemiological AND clinical criteria in the table below.
  • Isolate patients who have been tested pending results.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CRITERIA

CLINICAL CRITERIA

Very high risk

  • Close contact (for definition see http://bit.ly/CDNA_COVID-19) in the 14 days prior to illness onset with a confirmed case
  • International travel in the 14 days prior to illness onset
  • Interstate travel in the 14 days prior to illness onset
  • Cruise ship passengers and crew who have travelled in the 14 days prior to illness onset
  • Persons who have been to Angaston, Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Lyndoch or Williamstown from the 14th of March 2020
Persons who have been to Adelaide Airport including in the terminal or carpark in the 14 days prior to illness onset

 

  • Fever (≥38°C)§ or history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills)

OR

  • Acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat)

 

High risk setting

Two or more cases of illness clinically consistent with COVID-19 (see clinical criteria) in the following settings:

  • Aged care and other residential care facilities
  • Military operational settings
  • Boarding schools
  • Correctional facilities
  • Detention centres
  • Aboriginal rural and remote communities, in consultation with CDCB

High risk setting

Two or more cases of illness clinically consistent with COVID-19 (see clinical criteria) in the following settings:

  • Aged care and other residential care facilities
  • Military operational settings
  • Boarding schools
  • Correctional facilities
  • Detention centres
Aboriginal rural and remote communities, in consultation with CDCB

Moderate risk

Healthcare workers, aged or residential care workers

Background risk

  • No epidemiological risk factors

 
  • Hospitalised patients with fever (≥38°C)§  

AND

  • Acute respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat)* of unknown cause

§ Measured using a tympanic, oral or other thermometer proven to consistently and accurately represent core body temperature

* Clinical judgement should be exercised in testing hospitalised patients. Patients should attend an ED if clinical deterioration occurs.

Medical practitioners are advised to:

  • Not work whilst symptomatic with an influenza-like illness.
  • Refer to earlier Public Health Alert of 26 February 2020 for further details of PPE, infection control and specimen collection www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/HealthAlerts
  • Send specimens to SA Pathology. Request respiratory viruses including COVID-19.
  • Do not send patients to a general pathology collection centre.

For information on COVID-19 Clinics and Testing Centres https://bit.ly/2J5OEaL

Dr Louise Flood – Director, Communicable Disease Control Branch