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South Australia has recorded a 37 per cent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases reported in the past week.
- South Australia has recorded 2,347 new COVID-19 cases in the past week
- Modelling predicted the state to experience a peak of about 6,000 cases by mid March
- The wave is consistent with an increase in cases across Australia
According to SA Health data, 2,347 new infections have been reported this week, compared to 1,712 cases last week.
The increase has seen 59 people hospitalised with the virus, with three requiring intensive care.
Modelling released by the University of Adelaide last month predicted the state would experience a peak of about 6,000 COVID-19 cases by the middle of March.
During a press conference on Friday, South Australia's Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the modelling was about two weeks out.
"It had been fairly flat for a while, and this is the first week in a long time that we are starting to see those cases increase," she said.
"Of course, not everybody is getting tested anymore.
"We have just started to see an increase in the wastewater counts as well, and we will continue to monitor that."
The wave is consistent with an increase in the number of cases around Australia.
The Adelaide Festival, WOMADelaide and the Fringe Festival have attracted thousands of interstate and international visitors to South Australia this month.
But Professor Spurrier said the state would have experienced a wave regardless of the festivities.
"This is because we have got COVID around us in the community, and over time, our immunity to catching another infection starts to drop off," she said.
"It's predictable that we are going to continue to see waves of COVID, hopefully over time, they will drop down in size, and we are expecting to also have fewer people needing to be admitted to our hospitals."
Professor Spurrier encouraged the public to get another dose of the vaccine, and to continue to report positive Rapid Antigen Tests on the SA Health website.
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