Barossa response – COVID19 – 29 March 202
South Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Nicola Spurrier has made the following public health statement in relation to Barossa and COVID-19 and new measures to reduce non-essential travel in the area to get ahead of the cluster.
“We are very concerned about the number of cases that we have been seeing from the Barossa … with 34 confirmed cases linked to the Barossa. The link has been from the two groups of tourists (American and Swiss). These cases we are seeing in the Barossa appear to be linked.
“Our areas of concern include the towns of Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Williamstown, Angaston and Lyndoch. Because of this my team, together with colleagues from SAPOL, got together and mapped out the entire areas.
“Together with Assistant Police Commissioner we have recommended new measures to try to contain the clusters.
“Anybody who has been in these areas (Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Williamstown, Angaston and Lyndoch) on Saturday 14 March who has developed symptoms needs to immediately self-isolate and organise to be tested.
“We are setting up another COVID-19 clinic in Tanunda (details of operation will be on website)
“Travel in or out of these towns I would like to have reduced. We are asking people that live in these areas to reduce non-essential travel. We are also asking members of the South Australian community to rethink travel to these towns and this area,” Dr Spurrier said.
Anyone in this region who is able to work from home, should. However, those businesses in the midst of the 2020 vintage, wine production has been classed as an essential service, so therefore those people can continue to travel and work. However, it is important to note for wine production to be considered an essential service we must maintain rigorous hygiene and social distancing.
SA Health has also recommended to the Department of Education, until further notice, to proactively close the schools in the areas of Nuriootpa, Tanunda, Angaston, Williamstown and Lyndoch from Monday, 30 March. This includes schools, childcare and out of school hours facilities.
