UP to eight cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Gawler, with only one active case still present in the town, according to new SA Health data.
On Monday, South Australia recorded its third-straight day of zero new COVID-19 cases despite a state-wide blitz on testing, where the qualifications for receiving a screen for the disease was broadened.
Last week, SA Health began publishing the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases by local government area, based on the infected person’s usual place of residence.
The maps revealed between seven and eight Gawler Council residents had tested positive to the virus, with data on active cases from Monday showing seven had recovered and only once active case remained.
The neighbouring Barossa Council, which experienced a cluster of 39 COVID-19 cases earlier in the pandemic, had between nine and 13 residents test positive.
Playford and Light Regional councils both recorded between seven and eight positive cases.
All three councils now also have one active case in their areas.
In total, 435 confirmed cases have been found in South Australia, with 369 of those now recovered.
Two people are in intensive care as they fight the disease and four people have died.
South Australia’s testing blitz, which began on Thursday has seen the number of total tests conducted in the state spike in the past five days.
SA Pathology had conducted 44,278 COVID-19 tests between the start of the pandemic and Monday, 16,200 of which have been conducted at the state’s metropolitan testing clinics.
An online health service, run by SA Pathology and local health company Personify Care, has now been launched to allow streamline the testing process and deliver faster results.
The service will be voluntary to sign up to and will deliver faster results to those who test negative to COVID-19 by contacting them electronically.
Anyone who tests positive to the virus or chooses not to utilise the online service will still be contacted by a health professional.
SA Pathology executive director of clinical services Dr Tom Dodd said the online service was “safe and efficient.
“We are performing in excess of 7000 tests per week, and on average, 98.7 per cent are negative results,” he said.
“The process of undergoing testing for COVID-19 and waiting for the results can be stressful so it is hoped the portal will reduce delays and ease some of the anxiety for patients.
“All test results will be manually reviewed before entering them into the portal to ensure accuracy, and all patients who return a positive COVID-19 test result will still be contacted personally to inform them.”
Patients tested at any metropolitan testing clinic or selected country clinics, including Gawler, will be able to sign up for the online service.
Also this week, SA Health announced it was partnering with SA Water to test wastewater across the state, including at Angaston, to identify COVID-19 clusters.
