South Australia has recorded 11 COVID-related deaths, a record number for the state.
Premier Steven Marshall said the high number might be the result of late reporting of some deaths in aged care.
"When I spoke to Professor [Nicola] Spurrier about this — because it did seem like an unusually large number — she said it's quite possible that it's an accumulation [across] a number of days," he said.
"There is no urgent reporting requirement from residential aged care facilities into SA Health.
"Nevertheless, [it's] very sad news and I express our sincere condolences on behalf of the state to those friends and family of the 11 deceased."
Five of today’s deaths occurred in aged care facilities.
The deaths include two men in their 50s, two men and a woman in their 70s, three men and a woman in their 80s, and two men in their 90s.
The state recorded 3,777 new cases, an increase on previous days but still below the seven-day average.
That brings the total number of active cases to 35,525.
There are 290 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 29 in ICU.
Mr Marshall said nine people were on ventilators, but SA Health later clarified that number stood at six.
South Australia has reached its 90 per cent double-vaccination rate for people 12 and over, but the milestone has come three weeks later than authorities had hoped.
Mr Marshall said the state's full plan for schools would be announced tomorrow but he ruled out routine rapid antigen testing for surveillance in most situations.
"There are limited circumstances in which the RAT tests should be used, and we'll be outlining them tomorrow," he said.
Mr Marshall said isolation requirements would be different than under previous outbreaks, where a positive student would send an "entire class into isolation".
"Teachers shouldn't have any fear that the protocols that we had in place for Delta will be carried over into Omicron," he said.
Hospital reverses strict ban on partners during childbirth
Lyell McEwin Hospital has reversed its tough restrictions that saw partners only allowed while women were in active labour and for four hours after their baby's birth.
The hospital, in Adelaide's north, announced today that, while final decisions were still being made, a support person would be allowed throughout an induction, the duration of labour and birth of a baby.
Parents will also be allowed to "visit their newborn baby every day" but how long those visits can be, and how long partners can stay after the birth of a baby, has not yet been announced.
Mr Marshall, who had ordered an urgent review of the restrictions, said he was "pleased that there's been a sensible resolution".
"The partner will be available to be present during the induction, the birth, they'll be able to visit on a daily basis," he said.
"There will still be some restrictions but I think this is a sensible outcome."
Commonwealth supports investigation into RATs, Premier says
Mr Marshall said the Commonwealth supported his request for the consumer watchdog to investigate reports that rapid antigen tests (RATs) bound for South Australia had been requisitioned by other states.
"I've contacted Victoria, New South Wales, the Commonwealth, they absolutely rule out the fact that they've been involved." he said.
"And, in fact, the Commonwealth now supports the referral to the ACCC to have this fully investigated.
"We want to know what has gone in this situation. It's quite possible there has been anti-competitive behaviour, potentially illegal behaviour. Either way, it's a massive kick in the guts to South Australia if our RATs have been taken by somebody else."
