Another truck driver tests positive in South Australia for second consecutive day

A second truck driver has tested positive to Covid-19 in South Australia, health officials have confirmed.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier on Friday said the new case — an unvaccinated Victorian in his 30s — travelled into the state for work when his positive result was detected through routine testing.

She said he had a colleague in the truck with him on the way to SA but drove back to Victoria in a separate truck that they purchased. That colleague’s test was negative.

Two public exposure sites have been listed; one is the Liberty service station at Glenunga on October 1 at 1.59am and the second is the Coles Express at Tailem Bend on October 1 at 3.45am.

No more sites are expected to be announced at this stage.

“Hopefully because of the checks and balances we have in our state we won’t see any community transmission,” Professor Spurrier said.

The case is not linked to the positive driver announced on Thursday.

The new infection brings the total number of truck drivers that have tested positive in SA to nine.

Professor Spurrier said seeing positive cases connected to truck and freight drivers should be expected because of the risk coming from NSW and Victoria.

She said she hoped to get through the look weekend without another positive case.

It is a requirement in SA that all truck drivers must have at least one Covid-19 jab but Professor Spurrier could not say if the man would be penalised for the breach.

“It's disappointing that this person was not vaccinated,” she said.

“Our legislation is specific to South Australia so we don't have an ability to follow him up as he’s now interstate.

“There may be different rules in Victoria about mandatory vaccination for certain workers so that will be up to Victoria Police to follow through.”

Health Minister Stephen Wade said the new case was a timely reminder to get vaccinated.

The state reached a vaccination milestone, hitting 50 per cent of its population aged 16 and over now being fully vaccinated.

SA is looking to achieve its vaccination target of 80 per cent within months.

It was announced on Thursday afternoon that a man in his 20s tested positive during routine three-day testing also required for his job.

Professor Spurrier said his test showed the man — who lives in SA but is currently in Victoria — was “very early in his infectious period”.

It was revealed the truck driver frequently travelled between SA and Victoria for work.

The man’s fully vaccinated wife and their child had so far tested negative but they all must complete two weeks of isolation.

Professor Spurrier said contact tracers were working to check QR code check-ins, review CCTV footage and credit card details to determine who attended venues at the same time as the positive case.

Later on Friday, she said there had been 56 contacts identified.