Covid-19 mask mandates in South Australia expected to continue for ‘foreseeable future’

The mask mandate will likely continue in SA for many more weeks to guard against Covid-19 sneaking across the border. Take our poll: Right call or overkill?

Mask mandates will remain in South Australia “for the foreseeable future” – likely for some weeks – as authorities try to prevent any Delta virus incursion from New South Wales.

The threat from the Modbury cluster has waned but masks are now considered a shield against rapid transmission of Covid-19 – especially the highly-infectious Delta strain – if the virus seeps into South Australia.

It is understood this means masks will continue to be required in places including indoor public areas, high schools and public transport “for the foreseeable future”.

The rationale is that this allows internal restrictions to be relaxed as soon as possible, because masks can limit the threat if the virus sneaks in from outbreaks in NSW or Queensland.

“It’s better to have to wear masks than to keep gatherings and density at businesses and so on down because of the situation in NSW,” a senior government source said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday said she wanted to ease restrictions from August 29, setting that date as the target for a 50 per cent adult vaccination rate with delivery of six million doses.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier on Tuesday said masks were an additional protection that enabled some other restrictions to be lifted when the population was not fully vaccinated.

“We’ve just come out of that Modbury outbreak, the team’s done a fantastic job at really tying off all those loose ends, but there’s always a risk of course that somebody didn’t QR in and we didn’t manage to catch every case, so certainly over the next few weeks we do need to have a very high mask-wearing (rate),” she told FIVEaa.

“I’m thrilled to see how many South Australians are wearing masks, but we’ve got the additional risk from New South Wales and possibly now from Queensland ... this is the time when masks are a good idea.”

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on Tuesday said he was encouraged that “so many people are wearing masks”, even outdoors where it was not mandated.

“I’m very pleased with what I see in terms of the community of South Australia doing what they can to minimise the potential for this virus to spread in our community – that gives us confidence to make changes to our restrictions and lift them earlier, if possible,” he said.

Premier Steven Marshall dons a mask for a tour of the Hyde Park Bakery on July 29. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Premier Steven Marshall repeatedly has likened the state to a tinderbox, warning the infectious Delta variant might sweep through the state like a bushfire if measures were not in place to stop the spread.

Authorities have not given any timeline for mask mandates to be relaxed, although Mr Stevens on Monday declared this would be contingent on health advice.

This advice was now “very clear”, he said, that masks provided “very strong protection” for the wearer and minimised the chance of Covid-19 spreading to others.

This suggests that masks, coupled with stringent border controls, will remain mandated until interstate outbreaks are doused or national vaccination targets are met.

Asked his thinking about mask use into the future, Mr Stevens said he was grateful people were “doing the right thing at this point in time”.

“I’ll wait to see the health advice … we’ll keep the community advised about the need to continue wearing masks as we get that health advice,” he said.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier at a Covid-19 media briefing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Professor Spurrier thanked the public for wearing masks, getting tested and quarantining when necessary during the Modbury outbreak, which triggered a seven-day statewide lockdown.

Referring to masks, she said: “Please make these your friends. Wear your mask. If you can wear a mask, wear a mask.”

Many people have embraced Professor Spurrier’s advice. Since the lockdown ended, a clear majority of shoppers and workers in Adelaide’s CBD have been wearing them when outside.

Mr Marshall said mask wearing in the past week had “given the Transition Committee, the chief public health officer and the Police Commissioner a great cause for optimism”.

“This was one of the key reasons why they were keen for us to further step down restrictions in a gradual, careful and prudent way, but in a way that will provide greater freedoms as of midnight this Wednesday night,” he said.

Several restrictions will relax from 12.01am on Thursday, including public venue density returning to 50 per cent capacity, or one person per 2 sqm. People must be seated while drinking.

But mask rules remain for indoor public venues, public transport, high-risk locations and schools. Children under 12 years of age are not required to wear a mask.