S-E restrictions set to ease early, plus Premier says most double-vaccinated Xmas visitors will not need to quarantine

Tough Covid restrictions in SA’s south east remain on track to be eased tomorrow but the call will still hinge on developments overnight.

Restrictions imposed on the Mount Gambier region after a Covid-19 scare are likely to be eased from today after no new cases were reported.

More than 7000 people were tested in South Australia on Thursday, with people in the South East turning up in their hundreds to be checked.

The number of vaccinations reached a daily high of 20,420.

It was only the second time that more than 20,000 jabs had been administered across the state, with 20,317 people immunised on Wednesday.

Tough restrictions were put on the local government areas of Mount Gambier, Grant and Wattle Range on Monday after a woman in her 40s tested positive following a trip into Victoria.

When asked if the woman has or will be charged with failing to comply with a direction under the Emergency Management Act, SA Police said it was still investigating.

With no new community cases recorded since that, and large numbers of testings, Premier Steven Marshall has indicated the committee will look at easing the burden on the region which has had a significant impact on cross border communities.

The restrictions include a cap of two visitors to homes, 10 people at weddings and funerals and bans on sport.

While school is due to resume on Monday after the holiday break, the committee appears unlikely to rush to drop the requirement for high school students to wear face masks.

Vaccinations in SA have now hit 1,808,113 doses with 71 per cent of the eligible population aged over 16 having had one shot and 53 per cent two shots.

SA has had a total of 907 cases and there have been four deaths.

NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Marianne Gale says 587 new local COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the state, and 8 people had died, five men and three women.

Christmas quarantine gift

Interstate visitors will be able to come to South Australia for Christmas without needing to quarantine, Premier Steven Marshall announced Wednesday.

The state government is finalising the Christmas plan, to be announced in a couple of weeks, easing restrictions for people who are double-vaccinated.

“People can look forward this Christmas to having people coming from interstate to spend time with them,” Mr Marshall said.

“They can look forward to no statewide lockdowns.

“We know that some people coming back will need to do some quarantine if they are not double-vaccinated.”

Premier Steven Marshall, centre, with participants preparing for the 2021 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Mr Marshall indicated that people who had visited exposure sites, or had not been fully vaccinated, would likely still face mandatory quarantine.

“But I’m hopeful that all of those people coming back from interstate who are double-vaccinated and that haven’t been to exposure sites will be able to come back and enjoy a relatively normal Christmas in SA,” he said.

“There still will be restrictions in place – caps and density arrangements – and we will also be testing, isolating, quarantining people who do come down with the disease.

“But is less likely to be as onerous as it has in the past.”

The visitors would need to be tested, with the government now working through the detail on that, Mr Marshall said.

In the short term, SA would require 14 days of home quarantine and not follow the federal government call and NSW plan to impose only a 7-day quarantine.

NSW had ongoing community transmission and was therefore in a different position to SA, Mr Marshall said.

“The seven days of home quarantine for double-vaxxed people is a NSW proposal; we haven’t signed up to that yet,” he said.

“But I don’t think we’ll stay there (14 days) forever.”

Cafe Melzar worker Laura Wagner in Mount Gambier, where strict restrictions have been imposed – but may soon be lifted. Picture: Tom Huntley

The announcement came as SA recorded no new Covid-19 cases following this week’s Covid-positive case from Mount Gambier, which prompted stringent restrictions in the area.

On Thursday morning, Mr Marshall said there had been a “very large” turnout for testing in the South-East. As a result, the transition committee meeting on Friday morning “will be looking at restrictions” that were imposed on Monday.

“We know they are very punishing on businesses and individuals,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

He said it had been an “anxious couple of days” as authorities still did not know the origin of the infection.

“Hopefully we can get some more information on that today (Thursday).”

SA Health reported 20,317 vaccinations were delivered on Tuesday – a record for a single day – taking the proportion of over-16s to 70.4 per cent for a first vaccination.

Nationally, first jab rates jumped to 80.5 per cent from 79.9 per cent.

More than half of SA adults – 52.4 per cent – are double-vaccinated.

Mr Marshall said the 80 per cent double-vaccinated mark remained the national target for when restrictions ease, but SA’s plan was dynamic and would always consider local factors.

Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced international travel would be permitted for fully vaccinated Australians as early as November.

While the federal government was still in the process of finalising plans, he indicated there would be seven days of home quarantine for Australian citizens and permanent residents and 14 days of managed quarantine for the unvaccinated or those who had not received a TGA-recognised vaccine.

Quarantine-free travel would also be approved for certain countries, including New Zealand, when it was deemed safe.

From Thursday, truck drivers entering SA will need to show proof they have had at least one vaccination against Covid-19.

“We hope that all drivers comply with that direction,” Mr Marshall said.

Unvaccinated truck drivers will be sent straight to vaccination clinics at Tailem Bend or Yamba in the Riverland.

Meanwhile, Mr Marshall condemned the torching of a car belonging to the Mt Gambier woman who caught Covid-19 in Victoria and allegedly misled authorities about whether she had been to Melbourne, initially claiming she had only been as far as Casterton.

“This is a very disturbing story,” Mr Marshall said.

“Of course, we condemn this action. This is, you know, a very nasty developments down in Mt Gambier.”

Mr Marshall said he had “no information” about whether police were considering any charges against the woman for her alleged lack of honesty.

However, he pledged to “make an inquiry and come back to you”.