Home

Mandatory jabs for truckies entering SA

AAPAAP
SA will make it mandatory for truck drivers from high risk areas to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Camera IconSA will make it mandatory for truck drivers from high risk areas to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Credit: AAP

Coronavirus vaccinations will be mandatory for truckies who want to enter South Australia from high-risk areas.

Some 900 locals are in quarantine after six transport workers crossed into the state and later tested positive to COVID-19.

"We're working towards mandatory vaccination for the transport sector here in South Australia," Premier Steven Marshall said on Wednesday.

He said there would be "some carve-outs", including firms operating on either side of the border in a bubble arrangement.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Emily Kirkpatrick said mandatory vaccinations for truck drivers from restricted or prohibited areas would be finalised by "the end of the month".

She said further contact tracing was underway for the latest incursion, truck driver number six.

A number of emergency order breaches are also putting South Australia at risk.

The latest arrests include an 18-year-old in medi-hotel quarantine, having arrived from Qatar, who tried to flee the Stamford Hotel but only got as far as the foyer.

He appeared before the Adelaide Magistrates Court and has been remanded in custody to September 17.

Mr Marshall steered clear of the national spat over vaccine distribution as larger states suffer outbreaks.

Opening a new mass vaccination hub at the SA Produce Market where 3500 businesses operate, he said speeding up the rollout was only possible because the federal government had secured extra doses.

"We've always said there must be a pro-rata distribution of those vaccines across all states, so this will correct in the coming weeks," he said.

"The discrepancy really relates to some states who have been in a very difficult situation."

A mass vaccination clinic at Adelaide Showground has doubled in capacity, and further pop-up clinics are planned across the state.

Freight workers are already subject to a national code, which requires stringent testing to pick up cases and put people in quarantine.

Western Australia has already announced tougher requirements from next week, after two drivers from NSW entered the state.

Truck drivers entering WA must show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test and at least one vaccine dose to enter.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails