Taskforce tackles supreme cluster

A MAJOR investigation has been launched into how one man’s lie sent South Australia into the nation’s toughest coronavirus lockdown.

A 20-strong taskforce of detectives will investigate if any criminal activity motivated a medi-hotel chef to lie about his role at a pizza shop, while multiple laws and SA Health’s contact-tracing are also in review.

It was formed hours after the revelation Australia’s toughest pandemic restrictions, including a six-day statewide lockdown, would be scrapped from midnight.

Queensland authorities confirmed the border would remain closed to Adelaide despite the Northern Territory’s plan to reopen to its southern neighbour from Saturday.

Queensland Health confirmed on Friday Adelaide would continue to be a declared COVID hotspot, but said Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young was “assessing the situation”.

“But the reality is there have been several instances of community transmission of COVID-19 in South Australia,” a spokesman said.

“SA health authorities are still investigating the extent of the cluster in Adelaide’s north. The reason there are so few restrictions in Queensland is because we have been cautious with our borders.”

The benchmark that has previously been set to reopen to a hotspot is for there to be 28 days of no unlinked community transmission of the virus, but Queensland Health also considers other factors.

Northern Territory officials announced they would likely reopen to South Australia from 9am on Saturday, following the discovery that contact tracing in Adelaide had been incorrect.

Exercise bans were lifted in SA but authorities said the Parafield cluster still posed a risk, as three new cases were announced and more locations of concern emerged. Another 44 suspected cases are under investigation. Masks are urged until authorities are confident the outbreak is contained.