“I know teachers are under the pump … but shutting down schools for a week will just cause too much inconvenience and we’ll avoid it any way we can,” Malinauskas told ABC Radioxjmtzyw Adelaide.
It comes as South Australia yesterday recorded 4742 new COVID-19 cases – the second-highest daily total since the start of the pandemic – and two deaths.
Hospitalisations dropped slightly to 157, including 10 people in intensive care and one on a ventilator.
Malinauskas told reporters that the numbers reflected modelling released publicly on Tuesday, which showed South Australia was on track to record over 8000 daily COVID-19 cases by April.
New modelling will be presented to the state’s Emergency Management Council when it meets at 9am, ahead of a press conference later today.
The council, which comprises cabinet ministers as well as department chiefs and public health officers, replaces the now-abolished COVID-Ready committee, which was used by the former Marshall government to advise state coordinator Grant Stevens on changes to restrictions.
Malinauskas told reporters yesterday that the council would consider modelling showing how many COVID-19 cases are predicted if South Australia reduces the quarantine time for close contacts from 14 days down to seven in line with the other states.
He said he had also requested new modelling showing how many COVID-19 cases are predicted if the state relaxes mask-wearing rules.
“We want to make informed judgements,” he said.
“Ultimately, of course, they are the Police Commissioner’s decisions to make as the state coordinator, but the more information we can have at the EMC tomorrow, the better for my team.”’
Malinauskas previously said that he would like the council to ensure South Australia’s restrictions match what is in place across the rest of the country.
In South Australia, people are deemed close contacts of positive cases if they spend 15 minutes or longer in the same room, despite the national definition of four hours.
Close contacts in South Australia must also isolate for 14 days, despite positive cases only having to quarantine for half that time.
The premier has also asked government lawyers to consider how South Australia can end its major emergency declaration by June, potentially by amending the state’s Public Health Act.
