South Australian health authorities have revised down the state's COVID death toll, hours after releasing the latest figures.
After Premier Steven Marshall earlier stated six people had died in the most recent reporting period, SA Health later clarified that the actual figure was three.
They are a man in his 70s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s.
SA Health said it had amended the death toll "following further clarification this afternoon" but did not elaborate on how the mistake had occurred.
"Obviously we extend our condolences to the friends and families of those people who have passed away," Mr Marshall said.
The deaths take the total in SA since the start of the pandemic to 47, and the total since borders reopened to 43 — significantly more than the 13 predicted.
The state today reported 3,482 new cases among 32,366 active cases.
There are 294 people in hospital and 23 people in intensive care, including four on ventilators.
"ICU and ventilator numbers are stable and in fact reducing over the last week," Mr Marshall said.
He said today's daily case numbers were again below the seven-day average and "another clear indication we are at or around that peak".
Booster interval reduced by one month
The SA government today announced an immediate reduction in the interval between the second COVID-19 vaccination dose and the booster.
From today, that interval will be three months — down from four.
The new three-month interval for boosters will create an increased demand of 225,000 shots — but Mr Marshall said the state had plenty of supply and many clinics had short waiting times.
The change to the booster interval followed similar moves by New South Wales and Victoria this morning.
GPs and pharmacies will also be allowed to give boosters at three months, unlike in other states.
The Premier said 60 per cent of eligible South Australians have already received their booster.
COVID-positive patients are now spread across the state's three major teaching hospitals – the Royal Adelaide, Lyell McEwin and Flinders – as well as hospitals in country areas.
Some patients have been admitted to country hospitals for a "medi-hotel type observation", not because they needed high levels of care, the Premier said.
Medi-hotels remain in operation in Adelaide for COVID-positive people or close contacts who cannot isolate at home, or were "at a higher level of vulnerability".
A total of 451 SA Health staff are COVID-positive and 668 staff in total are furloughed – down from a high of 918 last week.
Mr Marshall said he was "increasingly optimistic about the way we've been able to respond" the COVID outbreak.
"South Australia has done a mighty effort taking on Omicron and I think we're about at the peak of that disease right about now," he said.
Yesterday there were 23,491 vaccinations administered, one of the state's highest daily totals.
"We're hoping to see further massive increase in vaccinations in South Australia over the coming weeks, especially for the 5-to-11-year-olds who will return to school, many of them from February 2," Mr Marshall said.
"We're really wanting to see that vaccination increase because as that vaccination increases we slow down the transmission of this disease even further."
