New exposure sites as SA-based truckie tests positive
A South Australian truck driver who regularly travels to Victoria has tested positive for COVID-19, prompting authorities to list several new exposure sites.
The partially-vaccinated man in his 20s tested negative for COVID-19 on Sunday, but returned a positive result today after being tested yesterday evening at Tailem Bend, prompting authorities to believe they detected the case early on in his infectious period.
The driver lives in South Australia but regularly travels into Victoria for work.
The man’s family, including his wife who works in an aged care facility, his preschool-aged child and his parents-in-law, are currently in quarantine and have all returned negative test results.
Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said there are several new tier two exposure sites in metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.
They include:
- The BP roadhouse in Keith on Tuesday, September 28, between 2.00am and 2.45am
- Liberty Windsor Gardens petrol station on Tuesday, September 28, between 6.00am and 6.45am
- The BP truck stop at Wingfield on Tuesday, September 28, between 7.30pm and 8.00pm
- Caltex Bolivar Gardens on Tuesday, September 28, between 8.15pm and 8.45pm
- Ampol Foodary Caltex at Wingfield on Wednesday, September 29, between 6.00pm and 6.45pm
People who visited the exposure sites must immediately get tested and quarantine for 14 days.
Spurrier said SA Health was in the process of contacting people who checked-in to the exposure sites using QR codes and reviewing CCTV footage and credit card details.
“I have been really impressed with South Australians using the QR coding at petrol stations,” she said.
“It wasn’t a place where many people did the QR check-in, but I think people have understood now one of the major risks for us is the freight industry as people are coming back and forwards between Victoria and New South Wales and South Australia.”
Spurrier said the truck driver, who is currently in Victoria and doesn’t have any symptoms, was complying with all directions and testing requirements.
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She said authorities were relieved that the man’s wife had tested negative for COVID-19 and she and all her colleagues at the aged care facility are fully vaccinated.
“This really absolutely highlights as such a good example of when you have people vaccinated we don’t have the spread and the transmission of COVID within our community,” she said.
“If you haven’t got yourself vaccinated yet you’re starting to look like you’re in the minority.”
There are currently two active COVID-19 cases in South Australia.
