UPDATE: Covid-19 turns up in Riverland, as milder Omicron variant takes hold

AS per expectations, the Riverland has its first confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the emergence of the mild Omicron variant late last month.

As of this morning, the Riverland’s three council districts have a combined total of 20 active Covid-19 cases, from a total of 27 confirmed cases.

Data from SA Health shows that Loxton Waikerie council tops the tally with 13 active cases, from 14 “confirmed positive” cases.

Berri Barmera has four cases (six confirmed positive) and Renmark Paringa has three (seven confirmed positive).

The neighbouring Mid-Murray Council has six active cases (10 confirmed positive), while Karoonda-East Murray has just one case.

The Murray Pioneer understands more than one of the local “confirmed positive” cases attended Adelaide Oval during the pre-Christmas cricket Test match, which has since been identified as a spreader event.

South Australia’s daily recorded case number reached 1472 yesterday.

While case numbers also continue to rise rapidly in NSW and Victoria, ICU numbers remain steady in both states as the Omicron variant – increasingly acknowledged as a significantly milder strain of Covid-19 than Delta – becomes dominant.

LOXTON WAIKERIE

Active cases: 13

Confirmed positive cases 14

BERRI BARMERA

Active cases: 4

Confirmed positive cases: 6

RENMARK PARINGA

Active cases: 3

Confirmed positive cases: 7

MID MURRAY

Active cases: 6

Confirmed positive cases: 10

KAROONDA EAST MURRAY

Active cases: 1

Confirmed positive cases: 1