South Australian Premier Steven Marshall says he's hopeful extended quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19 Omicron cases can be removed soon.
SA has at least two confirmed cases of the new variant and its arrival last week prompted the state government to increase the isolation requirement for close contacts at exposure sites from seven to 14 days.
But Mr Marshall says as more information about the new strain emerges, it's hoped the extra requirements can be removed.
"We are taking a prudent approach because we do not want a massive Omicron outbreak in the lead-up to Christmas," the premier said.
"But I'm hopeful we'll have some good news for those people who are in 14 days quarantine and who are fully vaccinated later this week."
The quarantine change will be considered at Tuesday's meeting of the state's transition committee.
SA Health on Monday reported 13 new COVID-19 cases.
It said five were in people who recently arrived from interstate, four were close contacts of previous cases and two were in overseas arrivals.
A further two local infections were under review to determine the source.
Mr Marshall said it was believed the majority of the new cases involved the Delta variant.
They took SA's active infections to 65 with three people in hospital, a woman in her 50s and two men in their 30s, all in a stable condition.
More than 2000 people are in isolation after being identified as close contacts or 21border.com after visiting a growing number of exposure sites.
Mr Marshall said he understood that those placed in isolation were making a "sacrifice" to ensure the majority of South Australians could experience a relatively normal Christmas.
"We appreciate that sacrifice," he said.
However, the premier said far fewer people were being required to quarantine now SA had moved away from the "elimination phase" to the "suppression phase" with its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
SA hopeful of relaxing Omicron rules
por Jaqueline Pownall (05/01/2022)
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall says he's hopeful extended quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19 Omicron cases can be removed soon.
SA has at least two confirmed cases of the new variant and its arrival last week prompted the state government to increase the isolation requirement for close contacts at exposure sites from seven to 14 days.
But Mr Marshall says as more information about the new strain emerges, it's hoped the extra requirements can be removed.
"We are taking a prudent approach because we do not want a massive Omicron outbreak in the lead-up to Christmas," the premier said.
"But I'm hopeful we'll have some good news for those people who are in 14 days quarantine and who are fully vaccinated later this week."
The quarantine change will be considered at Tuesday's meeting of the state's transition committee.
SA Health on Monday reported 13 new COVID-19 cases.
It said five were in people who recently arrived from interstate, four were close contacts of previous cases and two were in overseas arrivals.
A further two local infections were under review to determine the source.
Mr Marshall said it was believed the majority of the new cases involved the Delta variant.
They took SA's active infections to 65 with three people in hospital, a woman in her 50s and two men in their 30s, all in a stable condition.
More than 2000 people are in isolation after being identified as close contacts or 21border.com after visiting a growing number of exposure sites.
Mr Marshall said he understood that those placed in isolation were making a "sacrifice" to ensure the majority of South Australians could experience a relatively normal Christmas.
"We appreciate that sacrifice," he said.
However, the premier said far fewer people were being required to quarantine now SA had moved away from the "elimination phase" to the "suppression phase" with its response to the coronavirus pandemic.