There has been an increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions in South Australia as the state records another 4,222 cases.
Another 21 people have been admitted to hospital with the virus, bringing the total number of people in hospital with COVID to 222, including 11 in intensive care and two on ventilators.
A woman in her 90s, who tested positive to COVID-19, has died.
The latest figures bring the total number of cases in South Australia to 38,033.
Starting tomorrow, South Australia will also offer the flu shot to people aged 65 years and over at the same time as they get a COVID-19 vaccine at five major metropolitan clinics.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said that, with international borders open, the number of flu cases has already started to rise in South Australia.
"The expectation is, with more people travelling now between Australia and the northern hemisphere, that we will have flu here as we have had previously," Professor Spurrier said.
She said it was also important for young children and pregnant women, in particular, to be vaccinated against the flu as well.
"The other thing about our own bodies and our immune systems [is], because we haven't had a lot of flu around — particularly for young children [because] their bodies would have never had experience coming across the flu," Professor Spurrier said.
"For little ones as well, flu is quite serious and can be quite severe and I am strongly recommending young children be vaccinated."
COVID-19 numbers are also predicted to rise in the cooler months.
"Winter is coming. It's a lovely day today but will be getting colder soon," Professor Spurrier said.
"Give yourself every chance of getting through this winter in the best way possible and [staying] as healthy as possible."
Professor Spurrier said it was also possible to catch COVID-19 and the flu at the same time.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said it was "absolutely critical" for people to be vaccinated as winter approaches.
"For the last couple of years in Australia, we have largely been flu-free and, of course, that has been a welcomed blessing of the borders being closed," he said.
"Now that the world opens up again, flu is coming back into our community here in South Australia and it's ever more critical that people get vaccinated against the flu as well as COVID."
Mr Malinauskas said hospitals were under enormous pressure as the state heads towards its COVID-19 peak.
"The impending flu season will also put even more pressure on our hospital system and on our hardworking health care workers," he said.
"The best thing South Australians can do right now is to get vaccinated for both COVID and flu."
Free flu shots for those aged 65 years and over will be offered from tomorrow at the Noarlunga, Elizabeth, North Adelaide, Kilkenny and Wayville COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
