Coronavirus SA: Call to stay home being heeded in the regions
This would usually be the time of year when holiday makers hit the road, but regional leaders are reporting the public has generally done the right thing and stayed home.
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Premier Steven Marshall says people’s behaviour during the Easter break, coupled with new figures showing dozens more recovering from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, indicates the state has the right balance on social-distancing restrictions.
Declaring his pride in South Australians’ adherence to the measures, Mr Marshall said yesterday that a large number of new daily infections from three weeks ago was going through the system now.
“We currently only have 204 people that are living with it (COVID-19) in the state, so we are in a much better position than many other places in the world,” he said.
“I feel really proud of the behaviour of South Australians over the Easter weekend so far.
“I don’t want to see it slip back, but today I’ve been very proud. Other states who have put in heavier restrictions on their people have also had a backlash against them in certain pockets within society.
“We have not had that in SA … I think we’ve got the balance right.”
Regional community leaders also said they were pleased with the response to calls to stay home this Easter rather than visiting usual tourist hot-spots. During the week, Mr Marshall pleaded with people to stay home at Easter and school holidays, rather than visiting regional areas.
Yorke Peninsula Mayor Darren Braund said he saw only four boats go out of the Edithburgh jetty on Good Friday, compared to the 250-plus he would normally expect in the holiday period.
“I think the message has pretty well got through,” he said. “To have that many boats out on a day when it’s flat calm is a good sign.
“I would think that 95 per cent of people have heeded the message and stayed home.”
Copper Coast Council Mayor Roslyn Talbot has also been pleased so far this Easter.
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“I live in Kadina and went for a drive to Port Hughes, Wallaroo and Moonta on Good Friday and I don’t think there was even as many people out as you would see on an ordinary weekend,” she said.
Rod Penna, who runs the Goyder Street Cafe in the heart of Kadina, said a few tourists had visited but trade had mostly been to locals.
Robe District Council chief executive James Holyman said it had been “brilliantly quiet” in the South-East town.
“I’ve checked in with local SAPOL and they said even the roads are very quiet,” he said.
Victor Harbor Mayor Moira Jenkins said everyone “seemed to be doing the right thing” in the popular seaside town.
“I’ve seen a few visitors walking along but everyone is social-distancing and there’s only been about three or four boats in the car park,” she said.