The doctor who picked up the first Parafield cluster patient, which prompted South Australia's second wave of coronavirus and a strict lockdown, has spoken for the first time.
The 81-year-old woman was attending a consultation with Dr Dharminy Thurairatnam for separate health concerns, when the doctor noticed she had a cough.
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Dr Thurairatnam said she tested the elderly woman on 13 November as a mere precaution after months of the state being COVID-free.
"I wasn't expecting her to come back COVID-positive because we had no community transmission at the time," Dr Thurairatnam said.
She was shocked by the result.
"Oh my god, are you pulling my leg," Dr Thurairatnam said to her colleagues when the positive test result was revealed.
"I thought it may have been a lab error, but we re-tested her, and sure enough, she was positive."
After two weeks of quarantine and being cleared of coronavirus, today is the first time Dr Thurairatnam has spoken about her efforts.
Despite being labelled a hero, the doctor turned her attention to the people of South Australia.
"Me a hero? No. I am very humbled by the response," she said.
"I feel like I'm in a dream.
"We would not have achieved what we have without (South Australians) coming forward and cooperating."
SA Health Minister Stephen Wade used Dr Thurairatnam's actions as a reminder to thank all health workers in the state.
"Today is a day to celebrate, to celebrate 45,000 health personnel in SA," Mr Wade said.
COVID-19 update
South Australia has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, SA Chief Public Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier announced this morning.
This comes as the number of coronavirus tests reached 6736 overnight.
The total number of active cases in the state remains at 10.
"This is very good news for South Australia," Professor Spurrier said as the number of South Australians in quarantine dropped to 1000.
Professor Spurrier also said she has spoken to the man she wrongly accused of breaching quarantine and gifted him with a hamper.
"I was very pleased to speak to this person and for him to accept my apology," Professor Spurrier said.
She expressed her empathy for the man and the ridicule he received on social media.
"I'd be happy to meet with him once he finishes quarantine," she said.
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