Question Time

Coronavirus

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier please advise the house regarding the wellbeing of the woman who has recently contracted coronavirus in South Australia and assure the house that she is getting the best care that our great state can afford her?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:03): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. As of 6 o'clock this morning, at my phone hook-up with the health minister he advised that there are in fact no people living with the coronavirus here in South Australia. The three people who had previously contracted that disease had been discharged from hospital and were back living in the community. Unfortunately, later this morning I received confirmation from the Chief Public Health Officer that there had been another confirmed case from a positive pathology test for coronavirus in South Australia, a 40-year-old woman who had her test yesterday. The result was received today.

I want to assure the house that we are taking every step possible to keep the people of South Australia free from the coronavirus in South Australia. I am particularly pleased at the level of testing and the speed of the results that are coming back. I am informed by the Chief Public Health Officer that the Communicable Disease Control Branch are currently interviewing this woman, trying to understand exactly and precisely who she has come into contact with since arriving in Australia on 1 March. She came to Adelaide via Malaysia, I am informed. She started her journey from Iran. My understanding is that she came via Kuala Lumpur and then to Adelaide, arriving on 1 March.

As people would be aware, the federal government has put a travel ban in place with regard to Iran. This is because of significant concern that the federal government and the Chief Medical Officer for Australia, Dr Brendan Murphy, have regarding the outbreak and the lack of control of that outbreak in Iran. So that travel ban obviously continues to remain in force.

We don't have details yet of who this woman has come into contact with. We are in the process of ascertaining that information, but we make it clear that if people did arrive in Australia via Malaysia on 1 March they should think about their health, see whether they are exhibiting any symptoms whatsoever and, if they are, to self-isolate and seek assistance from the Communicable Diseases Control Branch in South Australia as quickly as possible.

This woman travelled to South Australia with her infant child. I understand that the Chief Public Health Officer is now making arrangements following the interview to determine the best place to isolate this mother and child, having concern for the wellbeing of both the patient and her infant child. That is the information that is received to hand. I expect that there will be further statements from the Chief Public Health Officer later today.

We wanted to bring this matter to the attention of the people of South Australia and the parliament as quickly as possible. I think that we need to continue to follow the advice from the Chief Public Health Officer to remain alert but not alarmed. This is another example of where, because of the excellent testing regime we have here in South Australia, which I am informed is the best in the country, we have been able to identify somebody living with this, act promptly and, if you like, contain the spread of the virus as quickly as possible.

We know that there is growing global concern with regard to the outbreak of this disease, and I want to assure the house that we are doing everything possible to minimise the effects both in terms of the health of the state and the economy, and we are taking all of those necessary steps.