SA Premier Steven Marshall has again refused to rule out privatising the agency that tests South Australians for coronavirus — but says any such move would not be happening "any time soon".

Key points: SA Pathology has previously been threatened with privatisation

SA Pathology has previously been threatened with privatisation The SA Premier didn't rule out such a move, but said the agency's COVID-19 response had been "world-class"

The SA Premier didn't rule out such a move, but said the agency's COVID-19 response had been "world-class" It has tested close to 38,000 South Australians during the coronavirus pandemic

In the 2018 State Budget, the Marshall Government warned SA Pathology that it could be privatised unless it achieved savings of more than $100 million over three years.

This morning, the Premier again refused to rule out privatising the agency, but lauded its central role in preventing the spread of coronavirus in South Australia.

"I've got a massive respect for SA Pathology," Mr Marshall told ABC Radio Adelaide.

"While I'm not ruling it [privatisation] out this morning, I think it's very unlikely that we're going to be privatising SA Pathology any time soon."

He described SA Pathology clinical service director Dr Tom Dodd as an "absolute hero" for his role in SA's coronavirus fight.

"We should be doing everything we can to acknowledge the work that he and his team are doing at SA Pathology — they are world-class," Mr Marshall said.

So far, SA Pathology has carried out almost 38,000 laboratory tests for coronavirus, with the total number of positive cases in the state remaining at 433.

There were no new positive results yesterday.

Mr Marshall said the agency had done an "excellent job" in quickly setting up South Australia's testing capability for COVID-19.

"When this started there were, I think, two or three clinics that could do [COVID-19 testing]. We now have 54 here in South Australia," the Premier said.

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"We've had a really good testing regime in South Australia. It's certainly been the best in Australia and probably one of the best in the world."

Mr Marshall said SA Pathology has "massively improved" its efficiency over the past two years, including fully delivering on its first-year savings requirements.

Employee association Professionals Australia welcomed the Premier's comments that SA Pathology was unlikely to be privatised, describing it as a huge win for staff.

"The lesson that policy makers have learnt from this experience is that you simply must have a pathology service with surge capacity to respond to crises like this one," SA director Sarah Andrews said.

However, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas called on the Premier to categorically rule out the privatisation in order to reassure workers.

"Everybody in SA Pathology has done an incredible job and they've shown the value of this being a publicly owned service," he said.

"The sooner Steven Marshall can absolutely rule this out, the better."

Supermarkets to open on Anzac Day for first time

Meanwhile, SA Treasurer Rob Lucas has announced major supermarkets will be allowed to open on Anzac Day for the first time in the state's history — a move he said would assist with social distancing to mitigate the coronavirus.

Previously, smaller supermarkets under 400 square metres were the only ones allowed to open.

But Mr Lucas has used his ministerial powers to allow all stores to trade, from midday until 9:00pm.

Beyond Anzac Day, all South Australian supermarkets will be allowed to keep trading for 24-hours during the week and from 9:00am on Sundays until the middle of May.

Mr Lucas said the decisions were made in consultation with health officials and that the measure would not be permanent.

"The Government has taken [an] isolated decision in relation to greater opportunities for trading, but we won't be doing rolling 30-day exemptions throughout the suburbs post-COVID-19," the Treasurer said.

"The advice we've received from public health officers in SA Health is that they support the continued option of extended trading to allow social distancing."



Hospital staff simulate a drive-through coronavirus test at the Repatriation Hospital. ( AAP Photo: David Mariuz )

Yesterday, the Premier announced a two-week "testing blitz", opening up criteria to allow South Australians who have mild symptoms — such as a cough, cold symptoms or a fever — to get tested.

Testing has previously been reserved for people with acute respiratory symptoms in order to preserve South Australia's supply of a chemical reagent, which has been in short supply around the world and is vital in testing for the virus.

"Anybody in the community here in South Australia who has got any of the symptoms which lend themselves to coronavirus can go off to one of our 54 rapid testing and assessment clinics in South Australia and be tested," Mr Marshall said yesterday.

"There is really a great opportunity to provide great assurance to the people of South Australia that we're doing everything we possibly can to make sure that we are the safest place.

"We have had, unequivocally, the highest level of testing in Australia and amongst the highest level of testing, per capita, of anywhere in the world."