New COVID-19 case may rule SA out of easy entry into WA.

South Australia has recorded four new COVID-19 cases, over the last 24 hours.

Worryingly, one of them was found to be picked up through community transmission.

SA Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the new community transmission case was a woman tested in Lyell McEwin Hospital yesterday morning.

The 80-year-old remains in a stable condition in hospital.

“In the last couple of minutes before coming to the press conference I’ve also received two positive results from family members of this case,” she said.

Two of the woman’s close contacts – a woman in her 50s and a man in his 60s – have also returned positive tests. 

One of them works in a hotel in Adelaide’s CBD.

All 90 staff who were in the emergency department of the hospital when the woman arrived will on Friday were put in quarantine and will be tested.

SA has not recorded any community transmission with unexplained origin since April. 

The unexpected case is predicted to change WA’s hard border arrangements with SA.

Under new rules, WA is open to all Australians without quarantine – given they are not from a State or Territory that has recorded community transmission in at least 28 days.

People from States which have recorded transmission –  such as NSW and Victoria – will need to quarantine for two weeks upon entry to WA.

Health Minister Roger Cook this week said the State Government would not hesitate to “slap back” the hard border if outbreaks occurred.

Scott Morrison urged WA to remain “safely open” and not revert to border restrictions.

Mark McGowan has not yet stood up to confirm the change to the WA hard border.

Watch: South Australia COVID-19 Community Transmission Update

Health authorities are scrambling to contain a COVID outbreak in Adelaide’s north with three infections confirmed.

Further Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.