SA Covid update February 10, 2022: Restrictions to ease, seven deaths recorded
Home density, fitness and hospitality restrictions are set to be eased – but many restaurant and bar owners say the changes will only help the Fringe and Festival.
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People can now welcome up to 50 quests to their homes under a major easing of the state’s pandemic restrictions.
Hospitality businesses will also be allowed to have stand-up drinking and 75 per capacity limits in outdoor areas, which will be a boost ahead of the Adelaide Festival and Fringe events.
But several key figures in the industry say the changes don’t go far enough because they don’t apply to indoor areas.
Premier Steven Marshall announced that home-gathering caps would rise from 10 to 50 people from 12.01am on Friday. Density rules in the fitness sector, including gyms, have moved from one person per 7sq m, to one per 4sq m.
Property Council SA executive director Daniel Gannon said the changes were “yet another step in the right direction” for business owners in the state.
But leading Adelaide restaurateur Simon Kardachi, who owns CBD restaurants including Fugazzi, Osteria Oggi and Shobosho, said the density changes showed “blatant disregard” for hospitality businesses and “only served the Fringe and Festival”.
“It’s a disgrace. More infuriating than any other restriction policy we’ve heard in the last three months,” Mr Kardachi said.
“It’s nothing more than a vote grab, especially when Fringe and Festival time is already our worst period of the year.”
Joint Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival, Rachel Healy, said changes to outdoor restrictions will benefit events.
“There’s nothing more wonderful than standing at the bar on the Summer House. The change in rules means that we are going to be able to optimize the experience for everyone,” Ms Healy said. Australian Hotels Association president Ian Horne said business owners were disappointed with a large increase for home gatherings ahead of relaxing rules for indoor venues.
“Particularly when they’re told there are higher risks with indoors, yet there’s a 500 per cent increase at home where there’s no checks and balances, there’s no Covid marshalls,” he said.
Kelly Markos, a spokeswoman for more than 100 SA wedding venues and suppliers, said the changes to home gathering caps were another “nail in the coffin” for the industry. City rooftop bar and eatery 2KW is one venue that will benefit from the rule changes.
“We’re excited about this easing of restrictions … standing consumption definitely adds to the overall vibe of the 2KW terrace,” said venue manager Richard Price.
Adelaide Fringe Director Heather Croall said many venues had adapted plans to suit outdoor consumption requirements.
“We’ve been working with a lot of fringe venues to modify areas around their venues to create outdoor venues,” she said.
“I’m really hoping that this will be extended across all venues, indoor and outdoor, across the next couple of weeks.”
Mr Marshall said further restrictions would be eased in a fortnight, with more following two weeks after that.
“I don’t want to have these restrictions in place for one more day than we need to,” he said. Seven Covid-related deaths were announced on Thursday along with 1639 new virus cases in SA.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 UPDATE
A woman in her 60s and a man in his 90s, who tested positive for Covid, have passed away as SA records 1,671 new cases.
SA Health on Wednesday revealed 139 people have died with Covid since the pandemic began just more than two years ago.
There are currently 210 people with Covid-19 in hospital, 18 in ICU and three on ventilators. There are now 14,312 active cases in SA.
Of Wednesdays cases, 97 per cent are omicron.
Yesterday, 9,953 people received a PCR test in South Australia, which is a 19 per cent increase on the previous 24 hours.
It follows new SA Health rules which require a symptomatic close contact to have a “gold standard” SA Pathology PCR swab where previously it was only recommended.
Those who are named close contacts but have no symptoms must now take at least four Covid tests instead of the usual two – if they choose to use rapid antigen tests.
More than 410,000 South Australians who are eligible for their Covid-19 booster shot are yet to roll up their sleeves, despite the state having ample vaccine stocks and available jab appointments.
Authorities are pleading with people to go and get their booster shot.
SA Health reopened Angaston Hospital to non-Covid patients on Wednesday.
It has treated 22 cases since becoming SA’s first Covid hospital more than three weeks ago.
A Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network spokeswoman said a fall in local Covid cases had fuelled its decision.
“The Emergency Department will reopen to the general public, while a newly designated area within the ED will be used to treat those with respiratory symptoms and deliver Covid-19 infusions,” she said.
“The site will continue to care for people from the Barossa and surrounding community who test positive to Covid-19 and require hospital-level inpatient-care for their mild symptoms.
“Infrastructure changes are put in place, creating a quarantined area for suspected and known Covid-19 presentations and separate entry points as well.”
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