There has been a “significant increase” in the number of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital overnight.

Premier Steven Marshall says the number of patients rose from 40 to 71.

The number of COVID-19 positive people in intensive care remained at four, with the admission of a 34 year-old-woman and one patient able to return to general care.

Premier Marshall said there were 2100 positive cases reported in the 24 hours to midnight last night.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, the Premier also said that 36 people across three prisons are now COVID positive. The sites affected are Mobilong Prison, the Adelaide Women’s Prison and the Adelaide Pre-release Centre.

A staff member at the Sobering Up Unit in Port Augusta has also tested positive to the virus.

The Premier also said the government had “real concerns” about the disability and aged care sectors and that they would be providing “appropriate support”.

He also paid tribute to pharmacists and GPs for “lifting their batting rate” in terms of vaccination rates with over 8000 people receiving the booster yesterday.

Despite SA Health saying last week that the Victor clinic would reopen from the Christmas break before the planned date of Tuesday 4 January their website still shows it to be closed.

The Terry White Hayborough Pharmacy has advised that a staff member who worked in the store on Tuesday 29 December has since tested positive to COVID-19. They have all customers who were in store on that day to monitor themselves and get tested if symptoms arise.