South Australia records 3246 new COVID-19 cases as close contact definition redefined in state

COVID-19 case numbers have again surged in South Australia with another 3246 infections recorded overnight, the vast majority of which are suspected to be the Omicron variant.

There are now 102 patients who have contracted the virus being treated in hospital, 12 of whom are in the ICU and one who requires ventilation.

More than 13,000 active cases remain across the state.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said the number of COVID-19 cases in the state's prisons have increased.

LIVE UPDATES: COVID-19 numbers explode across multiple states

"Yesterday I provided an update with regards to the prison population and we were up at 90," he said.

"That's further increased today up to 128."

Mr Marshall said all the staff who have contacted the virus within the prison system are "doing well".

"We are not aware of people that have been transferred out to hospital apart from the one very early in the day who was from the Adelaide Women's Prison," Mr Marshall added.

It comes as a pathology lab which lost around 100 COVID-19 test swabs as well as a number of blood samples from the Mount Gambier region has confirmed that they have now been found.

READ MORE: Queensland island split in two by cyclone swells

The tests will be processes as soon as possible, with some residents having been waiting for results since December 28, last year.

Mr Marshall said four private testing clinics will be closing, however the state's testing capacity will "make up that volume".

"If there is any pathology service in Australia which is capable of picking up the slack it is SA Pathology," he said.

"We certainly have the highest testing rate per capita in the country."

Mr Marshall added the state has the "shortest turn around" for testing in the country.

More RATs headed for SA

There will be a more regular supply of rapid antigen tests coming to South Australia in the coming days and weeks, the premier announced.

"As I said going forward we have more than one million coming into South Australia on an ongoing basis," Mr Marshall said.

"We are looking to work with some of the smaller jurisdictions to support them for a consolidating orders with some of the larger manufacturers for the rapid antigen tests."

More than 250,000 rapid tests arrived in the state today.

Majority in hospitals unvaccinated

Between 30 to 40 per cent of people currently in hospital in the state with COVID-19 are not fully vaccinated.

"Again my strong message is that you have got to go and get that vaccination as soon as you possibly can," Mr Marshall said.

"Because 30 to 40 per cent of those people that are currently in hospital are not fully vaccinated and yet the proportion of people in South Australia who are not fully vaccinated, 12 and above, is around 10 per cent."

"So it's a massive over representation of those who are not fully vaccinated."

Changes to close contact definition

Yesterday, Mr Marshall announced that new changes being made to the definition of a close contact were to come into effect overnight.

Maskless residents who have had close indoor contact for at least 15 minutes with a COVID-19 positive case will now be legally required to quarantine.

READ MORE: Epstein settlement with Prince Andrew accuser made public

"If you are face-to-face without masks indoors, then you will be designated a close contact if you have been there for more than 15 minutes," he said.

The rule doesn't apply for example "if you're in a restaurant and the waiter is wearing a mask" - they wouldn't be designated a close contact, Mr Marshall said.

READ MORE: Three-day heatwave to cause 49 degree temperatures

"But if you're out with somebody who is COVID positive face-to-face without a mask indoors for more than 15 minutes, it's very likely that you are also COVID positive."

The state's prison systems have also been flagged as potential super spreader venues with more than 90 inmates having tested positive by yesterday.