Three new cases have been added to the Adelaide COVID cluster as health officials struggle to contain the outbreak in question.
Extensive testing and contract prosecutions are underway to contain the spread of the deadly virus as several states close their borders with South Australia.
The additional cases have been linked to a large family, said Federal Health Secretary Greg Hunt, bringing the total to 23.
“Outside of this cluster, there are no cases of community broadcast in South Australia,” he told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
CONNECTED: How Adelaide’s outbreak began
“We have seen widespread testing and the South Australians have done a great job of presenting themselves for testing and encouraging them to continue to do so.”
Mr Hunt warned that if Premier Steven Marshall updates the numbers on Tuesday afternoon, the cluster could grow.
The Health Minister said the slow rise in numbers was a positive sign that the cluster could potentially be brought under control, but stressed that “we are not out of the woods yet”.
“There is still more to be done, but we are in an extremely strong position.
“I have to say that South Australia is an early response model in response and both the Prime Minister and I have acknowledged this to our respective colleagues.”
Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have declared SA a coronavirus hotspot and closed its borders in recent days, but Mr Hunt said doing so violated the federal classification of the state’s handling of the cluster.
“Our message to the other states is: Please look at the results in SA,” he told reporters.
“Please ensure that your response is proportionate and that the Commonwealth has established enhanced border control as the appropriate response. This is what New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT have said.”
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