South Australia will turn two recently decommissioned hospitals into dedicated coronavirus facilities.

The state’s premier Steven Marshall made the announcement on Thursday as he gave a grim insight into the months ahead.

He said the purpose of opening the facilities now was to get ahead of the peak of the outbreak.

“This is a serious situation, a global pandemic,” he told reporters in Adelaide.

“If we get this right, we’re going to massively reduce the consequences for South Australia and we will save lives.”

In the video below: South Australian Premier hits out at shutdown speculation

Play Video The South Australian premier has called for calm as sweeping new measures hit the nation’s states and territories. The South Australian premier has called for calm as sweeping new measures hit the nation’s states and territories.

The two new facilities will be at ECH College Grove and Wakefield hospitals.

“Wakefield Hospital will be dedicated to caring for mildly acute COVID-19 patients in a 130-bed facility,” Marshall said.

“Both hospitals will assist in providing a greater level of protection for the wider community by minimising the incidence of the transmission of coronavirus.”

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall. Credit: KELLY BARNES / AAPIMAGE

He also reinforced the notion that schools would remain open.

“At this point in the virus, here in Australia, it would be counterproductive to close our schools,” he said

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“It’s not to say this advice won’t change in the future.”

There are 36 cases of the virus in South Australia and at least 635 nationwide.