SA’s Covid pandemic ‘emergency phase’ ends Friday

In a major milestone, most legal Covid restrictions finally ended overnight. But some rules are still in place – here’s what they are.

The “emergency phase” of the pandemic officially ended at midnight almost 1000 days after the state’s first infection.

Virtually all legal restrictions have been removed, including mandatory isolation if people test positive and wearing masks in public if positive.

Close contacts no longer have to take five RAT tests however anyone who does test positive with a RAT will still have to report the result so SA Health can keep tabs on trends and also to help such people access antiviral medication.

Masks will still be required in health care settings such as hospitals and aged care homes.

Vaccination requirements for workers in health, aged care and disability facilities will remain in place “for a number of weeks” as they transition to being a matter for workplaces to manage rather than a legal requirement.

It comes as disturbing new figures show Covid deaths are starting to increase again in the UK, leading authorities there to urge a return to mask-wearing and advise caution when visiting the elderly.

Professor Nicola Spurrier speaking at a press conference in regards to the Covid changes. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier likened the changes to the removal of a “big government security blanket” and said it would be “empowering” for the public to make their own decisions on isolating if they are sick.

Asked by The Advertiser if the relaxation signals the end of the pandemic in a practical sense, Prof Spurrier said: “The emergency phase of the pandemic is over but we still have issues to deal with, and this is a little bit of an uncomfortable time.

“We have gone from the government having this great security blanket around the community and we are now just taking this away and giving more responsibility to organisations and individuals and in a sense that’s empowering.

“It’s exciting to have got to this stage.”

She encouraged people to be sensible and self-isolate if they are sick and wear masks – including around the house – as a precaution if they do test positive.

Health Minister Chris Picton said Covid would be treated as a workplace health and safety issue in future rather than an emergency requiring legal directions.

“This ends the isolation period for positive cases in South Australia,” he said.

“It’s been almost 1000 days since the first case was detected in South Australia so it has been a very significant period of time that there has been mandatory isolation in South Australia – that will no longer be the case as of tomorrow.

“However the message is still the same in terms of stay home if you are sick.”

Health Minister Chris Picton speaking at a press conference in regards to the Covid changes. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

SA now has around 1500 active cases but modelling predicts a coming wave to peak around December 6 with up to 8000 infections – not all will be recorded as cases as not all people will take tests.

Hospital cases are predicted to peak around two weeks later at around 200 a day which is lower than previous waves thanks to vaccines, antivirals and the hybrid immunity of people who have previously been infected and also been vaccinated.

The death toll from the pandemic in SA has topped 1000 but the modelling says the number of expected deaths from the coming wave is too small to accurately predict.