SA virus-free – as stand-up drinking to return, and higher caps on gatherings from Monday

SA is officially virus-free. A “massive” easing in restrictions will start from Monday, allowing big family lunches in time for Christmas.

The family Christmas lunch has been saved after authorities approved a “massive” easing of coronavirus bans for next week as the state was declared COVID-19-free for the first time in more than two months.

The state’s Transition Committee on Tuesday recommended a raft of changes, including standing-up drinking in licensed venues, a fivefold increase in the number of people allowed at home gatherings, and increases on caps for private function, such as weddings and funerals.

In decisions welcomed by industry leaders, play gym cafes will reopen, gyms can operate at half capacity while more patrons can attend theatres and cinemas from Monday.

QR codes will expand to all retail, as an RAH technology tracking blunder emerged.

Working from home is no longer mandated and masks need only be worn at high-risk spots.

Announcing the new rules on Tuesday, Premier Steven Marshall hailed the “massive changes” after a “very, very tough year” but the state was now the “envy of much of the rest of the world at the moment”.

“I want to really congratulate every single person in South Australia,” he said.

“We stared down this cluster, we stared down the second wave in South Australia.

“And now we’re all going to be the beneficiaries in the lead-up to Christmas from the fantastic work that every South Australian has put in.”

The capacity of home gatherings will be lifted to 50 visitors from 10, while a cap on private functions, weddings and funerals will be lifted from 150 guests to 200 people.

A one person for each 2sq m density will be allowed in gyms and churches. Seated entertainment venues, such as cinemas and theatres, will lift from half to three-quarter capacity – if patrons wear masks.

The new restrictions in SA from December 14.

More changes are planned in the new year. Public servants will also be allowed back into government offices.

Nightclubs must still seek special SA Health approval because dancing and drinking alcohol is not allowed, but visits to aged care centres will be eased. The changes, from 12.01am on Monday – if no other outbreaks erupt or mystery community transmission cases emerge – were announced as chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier revealed her joy at the last of the state’s infectious patients recovering, as foreshadowed by The Advertiser on Tuesday.

SA Health last recorded no “active” cases on October 1.

Urging people to keep getting tested for even minor symptoms, Professor Spurrier revealed a 10th consecutive day of zero daily cases as the state’s worst cluster tally remained at 33. There have been 562 cases in total.

“I really like zeros,” she said at a media briefing alongside Mr Marshall and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

“Really good news … we’ve got zero active cases. Well done. I’m really pleased about that.”

Last week as authorities become increasingly confident they were winning their fight against the Parafield cluster, she said she had a bottle of champagne “on ice”.

Asked if she would now “pop the cork”, she replied: “Jokes aside … I am very, very pleased today. It’s fantastic having zero cases in our state.

“My team has just worked so incredibly hard. I’m very, very proud of them.”

Prof Spurrier said testing gave confidence the virus was eliminated as expatriates on Tuesday flew to Adelaide for the first time since the Parafield cluster.

Defence personnel stand guard a the Pullman Hotel in Adelaide, where the first group of expats since the latest outbreak will be housed. Picture: Tait Schmaal

The medi-hotel program has been overhauled.

“As we go forward, we just need to remember to stay safe,” she said.

“The risk is still there, when we have COVID in the world.

“You have all seen the story of Dr Dharminy (Thurairatnam) – that wonderful doctor from the Lyell McEwin Hospital and that great photo on the front of The Advertiser (of her). We all need to be doing the same thing as Dr Dharminy – a little cough, feel a bit of a sore throat, you go and get tested. It is the only way we’re going to pick up those cases.”

Mr Stevens, in his role as state COVID co-ordinator, authorised the changes after taking economic, social and health advice at Tuesday’s Transition Committee.

Further easings are planned for the new year, such as increases to crowd numbers and density levels, in what Mr Stevens said was closer to “COVID normal”. “We see this as a significant step towards COVID normal but we do think there are some other things that we’ll try and introduce probably early in the new year,” he said.

“The indicators, zero new cases, zero active cases, the number of people that we currently have in quarantine continuing to diminish, you know they’re all very strong signs.

“But there’s always that caveat that if we find something else happening, then we will have to revisit our decisions.”

He said the “price” of bans were “because we still have the risk of COVID-19 finding its way into our community”.

“Playing our part in allowing people to come home … does add to that level of risk,” he said. “We cannot completely eliminate risk so we have to have a position … that allows us to respond effectively”. Property Council SA executive director Daniel Gannon said the decisions were “a shot in the arm” for business, especially city-based.

Business SA chief executive Martin Haese said the changes would be met with enthusiasm. “It’s a significant confidence boost for business”, he said

Nina Calabrese, 33, of Maylands, is looking forward to a large family Christmas.

“After such a difficult year, to come together as a family will be extra special,” she said.

Nina Calabrese sets up for Christmas with her children Eva, 3 and Luca, 1. Picture: Matt Turner.

A group of 97 passengers landed at Adelaide Airport from Singapore on Tuesday – the first international arrivals in our state since the early days of the Parafield cluster.

The passengers were funnelled through Adelaide Airport, walking about 40m to a waiting bus to begin their quarantine.

All expatriates returning to Adelaide from overseas will now be regarded as COVID-19 positive, until testing shows otherwise. Those found to be COVID-19 positive will be housed in two floors of the Pullman Hotel in the city.

Prof Spurrier said more international flights were due this week. “We are gradually easing into this so we’re not going to be up at the same sort of numbers as we had previously,” Prof Spurrier said.

Mr Stevens said officials had worked hard to ensure medi-hotel safety.

“Health and (police) are doing everything they possibly can to minimise the risk of COVID-19 finding its way outside of these medi-hotels,” Mr Stevens said.