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South Australia has recorded its first new coronavirus case in a fortnight after a man who returned from the United Kingdom in March tested positive.
Key points:
- South Australia now has 439 coronavirus cases
- A man has tested positive after noticing a lack of smell and taste
- SA Health believes he acquired it in the UK
The latest diagnosis brings the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the state to 439.
SA Health believes the man in his 70s acquired COVID–19 overseas, but developed "very mild" symptoms, including a loss of taste and smell sensations, after his return on March 20.
He sought a test on May 5 and it was subsequently confirmed he had the virus, and a small number of close contacts have gone into isolation.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said he was not infectious on his flight into Australia and that he self-quarantined once he arrived.
It is the first new diagnosis following a 14-day streak in which the state did not add a single case.
"We do in fact have a new case today in South Australia. That might make you feel quite disappointed but I'd like to explain some of the circumstances.
"He landed in Adelaide on the 20th of March which does seem quite a long time ago, but he was not infectious on the flight.
"He quarantined immediately and developed very mild symptoms on the 24th of March."
Dr Spurrier said SA Health was "very sure" the infection had come from overseas.
"This gentleman has made a decision to emigrate to Australia — in fact, his wife had already come to Australia, and he was in quarantine — he doesn't know many people in South Australia," she said.
"Despite having this as a new case … there are only five close contacts.
"None of them have any symptoms."
SA Health does not believe there has been any further community transmission of coronavirus in South Australia, and 99.5 per cent of all cases have recovered.
There are two active cases and two people in hospital.
"I want people to know we are likely to see more cases in South Australia," Dr Spurrier said.
Case 'consistent with known incubation period'
Dr Spurrier said it was "difficult to know" how it was that the man had contracted the virus in the UK and was still considered an active case weeks later.
"What we do think is probably people are infectious for about eight days from the beginning of having symptoms," she said.
"We are going to treat this as infectious at the moment."
On Wednesday, SA Health said border restrictions would remain in place in the state, especially after clusters interstate such as at a Melbourne abattoir.
The new case comes after Premier Steven Marshall anticipated a partial easing of restrictions for South Australia earlier this week.
He said from next week the State Government would look to reopen travel to regional areas and relax the limits on funeral attendance.
He said a taste of normality was not far away.
"We can do that from this coming Monday … and that's great news for people who have done the right thing," he said.
