Dozens of patients awaiting elective surgery at Mount Gambier Hospital face several days of uncertainty with its operating theatres likely to remain closed until Saturday.


A system-wide internal emergency was called on Thursday due to many staff being sick with COVID.


SA Health chief executive Dr Robyn Lawrence called a Code Yellow, opened all available beds and paused almost all elective surgeries in metropolitan and regional public hospitals.


A SA Health spokesman told The SE Voice that he was unable to state the number of Mount Gambier patients who have been affected by the postponement of elective surgeries.


“The Code Yellow remains in place … we are reviewing every day but it is expected to be in place until the end of the week,” the spokesperson said.