Thousands queue for Covid tests as SA locks down Victorian border

The wild weather has not slowed the flow of South Australians into one of the state's biggest virus testing facilities. Follow our live blog for the latest updates.

• This coronavirus article is unlocked and free to read in the interest of community health and safety. Click here for full digital access to trusted news from The Advertiser for just $1 a week for the first 12 weeks.

South Australia's borders have now shut to much of Victoria, as authorities reveal new local restrictions to avoid a full blown lockdown in our state.

Changes for SA

*Stricter border rules for travellers from Victoria

*Tighter restrictions in SA with 50 per cent density and mask rules to return

*Bans on dancing, singing and shisha bars 

*Plans to loosen SE Queensland border dropped

Mr Marshall said on Thursday afternoon SA authorities remained deeply concerned about new Victorian cases linked to the MCG. Victoria now has two Covid outbreaks and will go into lockdown again from midnight.

He said South Australian residents would be allowed to return home under Level 3 restrictions unless they've been in Greater Melbourne, Geelong or Bacchus Marsh. Level 3 restrictions require Covid tests on days one, five and 13, and self-quarantine until a negative result is received.

From midnight, any essential travellers or South Australians returning home who have been in those three areas are now subject to Level 6 restrictions, requiring a full 14 days of home quarantine.  

Interstate residents not classified as an essential worker will not be permitted to enter the state across the Victorian border, but the 70km bubble for border communities remains unchanged.

The border was no longer be lifted to South-East Queensland overnight as planned - however restrictions were removed for Townsville and Birdsville. 

There is no change to border arrangements with NSW and the ACT. 

Masks are also mandatory in high risk areas including aged care and correctional facilities, as well as for personal care services, and are recommended but not mandatory for public transports.

Restrictions have been reintroduced on singing, dancing and shisha bars, and private activities are capped at 150 people.

Premier Steven Marshall announcing South Australia's new coronavirus measures on Thursday. Picture: Matt Loxton

There are now 238 primary and secondary close contacts of the Sydney furniture removalists who sparked the SA scare in quarantine, including the McLaren Vale family of four who have all tested negative, and eight staff at the OTR Motorsport Park service station who also have tested negative. Two SAPOL officers who checked the van at the border are also in quarantine.

SA Health said the 150 people identified as having returned from Victoria who had visited exposure sites - including 120 who were at the MCG for the Carlton-Geelong game - must get tested and notify SA Health. 

They must stay in home isolation, along with their family, until receiving further advice from SA Health on whether they need to do a full 14 days isolation.

SA Health has texted 8705 people who crossed the border from Victoria since July 8 advising them to get tested and be alert for symptoms but stresses not all may have been at exposure sites.

Commissioner Grant Stevens said crowd numbers at Adelaide Oval were subject to discussions between SA Health And the Stadium Management Authority but indicated a reduction in numbers was likely.

He also ruled out fining the Tailem Bend Shell service station for not enforcing QR code check-in, or issuing expiation notices to people who had not checked in, after checks showed 76 credit card transactions but only 25 QR code checks between 5.20pm and 7.20pm last Friday.

He stressed it was in the greater public good to encourage such people to come forward rather than having them not identify themselves as possible close contacts due to fear of a fine.

"We don't want to scare off people," he said.

SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST DETAILS IN OUR LIVE BLOG