South Australia has recorded a spike in new COVID-19 cases after the opening weekend of the Adelaide Fringe, as Premier Steven Marshall rebuffs criticism from his WA counterpart about the state's handling of the pandemic.
A total of 1,958 people tested positive for the virus in the state yesterday, an increase of 580 on the previous day.
This is the fourth day in a row that COVID-19 cases have increased.
The last day with a higher result was Australia Day.
It continues a recent weekly trend of COVID-19 cases spiking on a Wednesday.
Of the new cases in the two weeks until yesterday, 7,262 were 19 or under — or about one-third.
More than 10,000 people received a PCR test yesterday, a 20.3 per cent increase on Monday.
There are now 192 people with the virus in hospital, 14 of them in intensive care and three on a ventilator.
No deaths were reported.
The Adelaide Fringe started on Friday and attracts thousands of visitors from interstate.
Many of the Fringe's venues, including the largest — Gluttony and the Garden of Unearthly Delights — require patrons to be double-vaccinated.
Premier rejects WA Premier's comments
Earlier today, Premier Steven Marshall hit back at accusations from his West Australian counterpart that SA's COVID-19 management had been reckless and has been paid for in human lives.
All but four of the 169 COVID-linked deaths in SA have occurred since borders reopened on November 23.
In WA parliament yesterday, Premier Mark McGowan lashed the performance of South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland since their borders opened, defending his decision to push back the state's opening date to March 3.
"Now that's my point of view — I actually value human life. I value it."
Mr Marshall today accused WA of being a "hermit state".
"I completely reject any comment that we haven't prioritised lives; we've had an extraordinarily good performance in South Australia," he said.
"I note that Western Australia hasn't opened their borders, yet they've already got hundreds [of cases] — you cannot keep Omicron out."
It is not the first time Mr McGowan and Mr Marshall have been at odds over COVID-19 management.
In September, Mr McGowan said SA "may regret that decision" to relax border restrictions.
