SA may be ‘more aggressive’ in lifting lockdown as SANFL, social sport, regional travel and open inspections emerge as priorities
Moves to lift lockdown restrictions and return to normal life could be quicker and more aggressive in SA than other parts of Australia for sectors and activities considered low risk but high return. Here are some of the plans being discussed.
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SANFL football, social sport and regional travel are the priorities for lifting lockdown restrictions in SA, as the State Government advances plans for easing coronavirus restrictions.
Premier Steven Marshall will this morning meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other state and territory leaders, ahead of a second meeting on Friday that is set to announce immediate and medium-term plans to lift lockdowns.
However, with SA having flattened the curve more effectively than many states it is understood moves to return to normalcy could be quicker and more aggressive here for sectors and activities considered low risk but high return.
It is understood the State Government is closely considering a resumption of regional travel in winter, and outside of school holidays, to avoid a huge one-off rush of visitors. However, a resumption of regional travel next week is also in the mix.
Mr Marshall will present a job-creating regional travel plan to National Cabinet.
Open home inspections are set to resume imminently in SA, with limits on the number of people inside at one time.
Plans are being examined that would allow SANFL clubs to resume modified group training within weeks, with safeguards including numbers no greater than 10 together at once and close monitoring of water bottles and other risk factors.
Competitive SANFL matches could restart before the end of June, and SA could move separately to the rest of the nation.
Changes made at the professional level would be matched with lockdowns lifted on social sport.
However, the hard-hit hospitality industry could be waiting longer for a return to normalcy, with indoor spaces and the consumption of alcohol considered to be factors which elevate the risk of disease transmission.
Plans are being crafted that would allow a scaling up over time of allowable customer numbers.
Mr Marshall last night told The Advertiser “on Friday, we hope to be able to provide a really clear picture to the people of SA on the road back and the way that we can lift restrictions to get back to a sense of normality”.
“It will be a combination of things that we can move on very quickly, but also issues that will be further down the track and with a timeline presented,” he said. “Of course, this is all dependent on Australia continuing to maintain very good social distancing, downloading of the COVID-Safe app and a continuation of very low new cases.
“I’m trying to look at three issues – what are the health implications, but what are the social and economic implications. We have got to get the three of those things in balance.
“In SA, because we’ve done so well, I am trying to get people back to work.”