Covid 19 Australia: Toddler infected with virus dies in South Australia

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall says a child under 2 years old with Covid-19 has died, amid the state recording 1,374 new cases. Photo / Sky News screenshot

A toddler infected with Covid-19 has died in South Australia.

"A Covid-positive child under the age of 2 has, sadly, passed away," Premier Steven Marshall told reporters on Thursday.

"This is still being determined as to the cause of death. Obviously, we will refer this to the coroner."

Marshall said if a person died while infected with Covid-19 it did not necessarily mean that was the cause of death.

"We will need to do that investigation," he said.

"Obviously, it's a tragic circumstance for the family."

Marshall said he was "not prepared" to say whether the child was being treated in hospital before their death.

"The family is obviously in a great deal of distress at the moment," he said.

SA Pathology testing site waiting times at 10am:
Elizabeth South 1-2hrs
Ridgehaven 1hr
Hampstead 4-5rs
Port Adelaide <1hr
Repat 1-2hrs
Victoria Park 8-9hrs
Bedford Park 2-3hrs
RAH 5hrs
Aldinga 4hrs
Airport 3-4hrs
Mount Gambier <1hr
Pinaroo <1hr
Bordertown <1hr pic.twitter.com/x8Q3CcLu9H

— SA Health (@SAHealth) December 30, 2021

The child is the sixth person with Covid-19 to die in South Australia since the start of the pandemic.

A Covid-positive woman, aged in her 90s, died in Adelaide on Sunday.

South Australia recorded 1374 new positive cases overnight, which was a slight reduction on Wednesday's numbers.

The Premier also revealed there were still 37 people in hospital, with four people in intensive care and one of them on a ventilator.

He urged people to get their booster shots.

"It still remains a massive logistical exercise to get so many people vaccinated in such a short period of time," the premier said.