Man’s ‘lie’ led to drastic SA lockdown

SYDNEY: South Australia’s drastic sixday coronavirus lockdown was triggered by a ‘‘lie’’ to contact tracers from a man who tested positive and restrictions across the state are set to be lifted much sooner than first planned, authorities said yesterday.

The shock announcement came just two days after the state government ordered people to stay at home and closed many businesses to combat what was considered a highly contagious outbreak of coronavirus.

South Australia state Premier Steven Marshall told a media conference in Adelaide one man at a pizza bar tied to the outbreak told contact tracers he had only bought a pizza there, when he had actually worked several shifts alongside another worker who tested positive.

Authorities assumed the man, who was not named, had caught the virus during a very short exposure, leading them to believe the strain must be highly contagious.

‘‘Their [the man’s] story didn’t add up. We pursued them. We now know that they lied,’’ Marshall told reporters.

‘‘To say I am fuming about the actions of this individual is an absolute understatement. The selfish actions of this individual have put our whole state in a very difficult situation.’’

While the outbreak was still worrying, Marshall said restrictions would be lifted early with a stayathome order ending at midnight today, when most businesses would also be allowed to open. — AAP