South Australia will put limits on elective surgeries and mandate vaccination boosters for frontline health workers before hospital admissions are forecast as the state has 1,471 coronavirus cases.
“Omicron is moving too fast,” says Premier Steven Marshall.
Restrictions on elective surgery will soon be introduced so that health resources can “focus on the imminent, likely increase in hospital stays in our state.”
Mr Marshall said “there is no need” for people to queue for hours to get a test and advised people to book in advance if they need one instead.
“The people who book go through it in order of priority; they’ll be ready in an hour or a little over an hour,” says Marshall.
SA restricts COVID-19 testing and elective surgery after registering 1,471 new cases. Image credit: AAP
South Australia will no longer conduct interstate travel screening tests as it lacks the capacity.
“We just have to dedicate all of the testing opportunities we have to people who have symptoms and to those who are in close contact,” says Marshall.
The state is also increasing the capacity of vaccination clinics as residents are encouraged to receive booster vaccinations.
Frontline workers in health, elderly care and the disabled must also receive a refresher within two weeks of being eligible to keep their jobs.
“We need to make sure we get as much of our health workforce as possible,” says Marshall.
