SA Health promises to get data in order after quarantine confusion sparks anger and anxiety

SA Health says quarantine rulings will be based on accurate data when borders reopen, despite anxiety and confusion among travellers desperate to see their families.

Fully vaccinated visitors travelling from Sydney and Melbourne have been assured they will be allowed into South Australia without quarantine when borders reopen next week.

In the wake of a public backlash at the widespread border confusion, SA Health said a statistical error that significantly under-reports interstate jab rates would be fixed by Tuesday.

This means vaccinated travellers from the NSW and Victorian capitals will be allowed into the state when borders reopen.

Angry expatriates who live in central Melbourne and Sydney told of their frustration at being threatened with quarantine because of incorrect population data.

The rules say that from November 23, double-vaccinated South Australians and interstate visitors entering SA will only have to isolate if they arrive from a local government area with a double vaccination rate of less than 80 per cent, and community transmission.

However, outdated population data that pre-dates the pandemic meant some central city areas are currently listed with vaccination rates below that threshold.

While precise Sydney and Melbourne vaccination rates were unavailable, senior government sources said both cities would be above 80 per cent under new data procedures.

Alice Leake, 34, who lives in Melbourne City Council area, has delayed plans to see family in SA for fear of having to quarantine as her council’s vaccination rate sits under 80 per cent.

“I haven’t seen my mum since Easter and South-East friends since January, but for Adelaide friends it’s been two years, so it’s been a while,” said Ms Leake, a landscape architect.

“There’s a heap of us wanting to come back. Five of my closest friends in Melbourne can’t get back home for Christmas because of the quarantine requirements. I really think it should be based on your vaccination status.”

Ms Leake has worked from home since March last year and says people have been gradually moving out of the city, contributing to inaccurate LGA vaccination data.

“I live next door to students and there’s so many empty apartments. There’s been a mass exodus,” she said.

“A lot of people aren’t living here any more, you just have to look on realestate.com to see how many apartments are for rent.”

Alice Leake would like return home to Adelaide, but was worried that as she lives in the City of Melbourne she would have to quarantine. Picture: Mark Stewart

The row came as the state government prepares to launch a pre-registration website by the end of the week with a “new and simple border entry process”.

Vaccinated people will also be able to show a vaccination passport with their QR code app from Tuesday after a successful trial from the department of Premier and Cabinet.

In response to inquiries, chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said data problems would be “resolved prior” to Tuesday after productive talks across the country.

“Our information to date suggests that LGAs in Melbourne and Sydney have higher rates than reported by the commonwealth government,” she said.

“This work will be finalised in the coming days and we look forward to updating the community then.”

SA authorities believe the Melbourne and Sydney CBDs’ double vaccination rates of 71.8 per cent and 73.2 per cent are inaccurate because they are based on outdated population data – which includes a huge number of foreign students who have returned to their home countries

Adelaide-born Madeleine Dow, 33, lives in central Sydney’s local government area, which has a vaccination rate of below 80 per cent. As things stand, she will not be able to cross the border from November 23 without going into quarantine.

After not seeing her family for six months, Adelaide-born Madeleine Dow, 33, spoke of her frustration.

She is double-jabbed but lives in Potts Point, a local government area with a vaccination rate officially under 80 per cent.

“Frustrated is probably the key word, mostly because as a state, we are highly vaccinated … just the lack of clarity in terms of what does it actually mean,” she said.

If Ms Dow lived three streets away in a nearby suburb she would be allowed to visit SA without quarantine.

“I’m in Potts Point but if I was just down the road in Paddington, I would be fine,” she said.

Madeleine Dow – three streets away and she’d be fine. Picture: Damian Shaw

Ms Dow said the rules lack clarity, as people in NSW are able to freely travel.

“Given that I could hypothetically be working in a Covid ward in a different LGA, but because my address is the City of Sydney … how does that play out?” she said.

“You’ve got people moving all around, but depending on what our driver’s licence says we can’t access another state.

“I understand these are hard decisions to make … but it’s frustrating.”

Ms Dow urged state governments to provide more clarity on the current rules.

“I understand that rules need to be there, but considering as a state, we are open and we are highly vaccinated, far higher than SA, I would like them to just look at those inconsistencies, and be really clear on the rules for SA residents as well.”

Premier Steven Marshall last Friday said authorities were scrambling to correct the “statistical anomaly” ahead of border restrictions easing.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens also urged people to abide by the new rules.

“It is in the hands of our community as to whether we do reach this 80 per cent vaccination rate by that date,” he said.

“I strongly encourage all to continue to check in and for businesses to inquire as to whether they have checked in.”