New SA premier to back virus health advice

Incoming South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says his new Labor government will continue to back the health advice in dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

After several days of reasonably high, but largely stable, infection numbers Mr Malinauskas said he would meet soon with senior health officials and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on the issue.

"Throughout the pandemic, I backed in the health advice. That's something we were consistent on," he told reporters on Sunday.

"We intend to continue to follow the health advice but also make sure that is done in a way that is considered and tested against other variables."

Mr Malinauskas said he hoped the bipartisan approach to COVID-19 management in SA would be maintained under the new government after Labor's convincing election win on Saturday.

He said he also intended to push ahead with amending the state's Emergency Management Act, the legislation used to impose restrictions and other measures including mask mandates, lockdowns and density limits.

"The act is not fit for purpose for a global pandemic that lasts for two years," he said.

The new premier's comments came as SA Health reported 3168 new virus infections on Sunday, the third fall in case numbers in as many days.

They had jumped to 4474 on March 17, a two-month high, after officials eased a range of coronavirus measures including the scrapping of all density limits.