Covid: Pizza worker's 'lie' forced South Australia lockdown

[Teh One Who Knocks]

BBC News




South Australia decided to enter a state-wide lockdown based on a lie told by a man with Covid-19 about his link to a pizza shop, police say.

The strict lockdown began on Wednesday after the state detected 36 infections, including its first locally acquired cases since April.

But this would have been avoided if the man had told the truth, that he worked shifts at the shop, officials said.

He said he only went there to buy a pizza.

This misinformation prompted health officials to assume the man had caught the virus during a very brief exposure and that the strain must be a highly contagious one.

"To say I am fuming is an understatement," state Premier Steven Marshall told reporters on Friday.

Australia has relied on lockdowns, widespread testing and aggressive contact tracing to push daily infections close to zero.

"We are absolutely livid with the actions of this individual and we will be looking very carefully at what consequences there [are] going to be," Mr Marshall added.

But that would not include police action against the man because there was "no penalty associated with telling lies", said South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

"We were operating on a premise that this person had simply gone to a pizza shop, [with] very short exposure and walked away having contracted the virus," he added.

"We now know they are a very close contact of another person who has been confirmed as being positive with Covid. It has changed the dynamic substantially.

"Had this person been truthful to the contact-tracing teams, we would not have gone into a six-day lockdown."


South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said he was "livid"

State officials said they would lift the lockdown on Saturday - three days earlier than planned - after recording only three new cases on Friday.

Police did not identify the man, but said he worked at the Woodville Pizza Bar in Adelaide.

Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that he worked with a security guard who contracted the virus at a quarantine hotel at the centre of the outbreak, which prompted South Australia to go on high alert on Monday.

When asked by reporters if the shop may need extra security because of public anger, Mr Stevens said: "There are all sorts of things we are considering at this point."

The state's outbreak follows neighbouring Victoria's success in crushing a second wave of coronavirus which caused about 800 deaths.

Victoria has recorded 21 consecutive days of no cases or deaths after its capital, Melbourne, emerged from a strict four-month lockdown.

Australia has recorded about 900 deaths and 28,000 infections in total.

[lost in melb.]

Fark... I'm actually in South Australia at the moment.

I guess it's good news

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Australian Associated Press




The man who inadvertently sparked South Australia's brief COVID-19 lockdown has expressed remorse and deep sorrow over the events that transpired last week.

Authorities ordered the six-day shutdown from Thursday amid fears a cluster of coronavirus cases might spark widespread community transmission.

But that was quickly cut short on the basis of revised information provided by the man, who worked at an Adelaide pizza bar, who had previously indicated he only collected a takeaway meal from the venue.

Officials were highly critical of the man's actions and police have launched a major investigation into the circumstances.

On Tuesday, the man's lawyer issued a statement saying he did not foresee or intend what unfolded.

"He is extremely remorseful and deeply sorry for any part his conduct played in any unnecessary lockdown actions," the statement said.

"My client's current focus is on cooperating with the authorities and completing quarantine.

"He is sincerely concerned about the impact of the lockdown on South Australians."

The statement said the man had limited access to government information and public comments on social media, but believed some information was not fair or accurate.

In an update to the police investigation on Monday, Assistant Commissioner Peter Harvey said officers had looked through 400 hours of CCTV footage and had seized various electronic devices, including a phone and a computer.

He said investigators had identified two more people they wanted to speak with who were currently seeking legal advice.

Mr Harvey said his investigation would deal in facts, "not rumour and innuendo".

"We're really stepping back here. There's a lot of emotion and a lot of desire for something to happen," he said.

"But it will be done carefully, it will be done clinically and we'll put our case forward.

"There may not be a case, just the same there may well be, that's the point of the investigation."

[FBD]

"I didnt think everyone would be that retarded" he was heard muttering after the fact

[lost in melb.]

There's a larger story. He's on working visa. These guys are quite vulnerable with their employment. He was probably working cash in hand