Dear student,
I write to advise that after an incredibly successful period of containment of the coronavirus in South Australia, SA Health has advised that a cluster of COVID-19 cases has been detected in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Four cases were announced yesterday; this has increased to 17 cases today. The source of the outbreak has not yet been confirmed, although Professor Nicola Spurrier, SA's Chief Public Health Officer, has said that a medi-hotel where one of the infected people worked is the likely source.
Locations linked to the outbreak so far are the Lyell McEwin Hospital, Yatala Labour Prison, Parafield Plaza Supermarket, and the Mawson Lakes Primary and Preschool. Other locations may emerge in coming days.
We are monitoring the situation closely. At this stage there is no impact on our facilities.
SA Health have contacted known close contacts of the cases and given instructions on quarantine requirements. If you are required to quarantine or self-isolate you must follow these instructions.
Please let your lecturers know if you are required to quarantine so they can help you with your studies.
You can email coronavirus@flinders.edu.au if you do not know who to contact.
If you need counselling support, call (08) 8201 2118 between 9am and 5pm on weekdays or email counselling@flinders.edu.au
If you need urgent crisis support outside business hours call 1300 512 409 or text 0488 884 103.
Information on all our other support services is available on our student website here.
There are also increasing restrictions on travel across state/territory borders, including the recent announcement of mandatory quarantine for people travelling from SA to either WA or NT. Other state and territories may follow. You are strongly advised to check the state or territory government COVID website if you have travel plans. Study-related travel will be impacted and you should check with the staff on what arrangements will be put in place if you were expecting to go on a field trip or study visit to another state or territory.
This is an extremely timely reminder for all of us of the essential need to maintain safe social distances, practice thorough hand hygiene, and to stay at home if unwell.
Anyone developing COVID-19 like symptoms – even if you have not been in one of the locations linked to the outbreak- should immediately get tested and strictly self-isolate until you know the result of the test.
If you have any of the following symptoms, get tested:
The SA government’s COVID-19 website has all the latest information, including links to other state and territory government websites for cross-border travel restricitions.
Take care and keep looking out for each other.
Clare
Professor Clare Pollock