SA’s Covid-19 Transition Committee discussed ‘trigger points’ of new restrictions, Grant Stevens says

Collingwood players will fly to Adelaide for this weekend’s AFL game, but many say it’s a disgraceful double standard as SA looks to impose more restrictions.

Adelaide players will get to sleep in their own beds the night before hosting Collingwood on Saturday.

SA Health on Tuesday night agreed to give the Magpies clearance to fly in and out of the state for the Round 12 twilight clash at Adelaide Oval.

The SA Health exemption has allowed for 35 Collingwood players, coaches and officials.

The approval comes as SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens warns of a possible new Covid-19 crackdown amid the escalating crisis in Victoria.

In the NBL, the Adelaide 36ers match against Melbourne United scheduled for Saturday, June 5 will also be moved from Melbourne to Adelaide.

The Melbourne squad has been based in Sydney after leaving Melbourne in May and will travel to Adelaide from Perth where they will play the Wildcats on Friday night.

There’s been mixed reaction to the AFL decision on Advertiser.com.au and on The Advertiser’s Facebook page, with some backing the decision to keep the AFL season on track and others angry at the apparent special treatment for the footballers.

“How disrespectful to those who can not visit SA to see family,” reader Brian wrote.

Another reader labelled it an “absolute joke”.

“Next thing, this time late next week, everyone who goes to the footy and any close contacts will be in isolation. Why take the risk for a game of football?”

Heather said: “One set of rules for the privileged AFL and another for the flock.”

While Karen said: “Unbelievable...one rule for footballers, another for all the poor workers who are losing income. Disgraceful.”

Tracy said it was she hadn’t seen her family in Melbourne for two years and was devastated that she won’t be able to fly out as she had planned on the June long weekend.

“Guess money talks!” she said.

Peter wrote: “Stuck in my house for fourteen days because I spent two days in Melbourne unlike the Collingwood players who have been in Melbourne a lot longer.”

But reader Othy reminded people that Collingwood players and officials have been “have been quarantined in a hub style arrangement and have not been wandering in the community”. “They’ve had multiple tests all negative. They will arrive here, walk to a bus, be police escorted to the oval.”

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The AFL had been considering moving the Crows-Collingwood clash to Sydney after SA closed its borders to Victoria because of the Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

But SA Health has granted Collingwood, whose players are still living and training in Melbourne, a travel exemption for the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round clash.

Collingwood players have been cleared to travel to Adelaide for Saturday’s game against the Crows. Picture: Sarah Reed

Details are unclear on crowd levels as well as when Collingwood will fly in.

An SA Health spokeswoman refused to comment.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Stevens said SA Health was taking a “very thorough and considered approach as to how it could be done safely”.

“If that does occur, then the allowances will be consistent with what exemptions are given to other people who travel into South Australia for other reasons, and there will be a tightly managed framework around that,” he said.

Tickets to the match had remained on sale and the Crows were continuing to plan for their home game as normal when they trained on Tuesday.

At presstime, the AFL had not confirmed the full fixture for this weekend.

There will be no football in Melbourne and other matches featuring Victorian clubs have been moved interstate.

The Crows declined to comment.

The Victorian government was set to meet on Tuesday night to discuss extending the state’s lockdown. It was expected the lockdown would remain in place until at least early next week, with an announcement to be made as soon as today.

Mr Stevens revealed that SA’s transition committee has debated “trigger points” that could spark new restrictions if events in Melbourne deteriorated.

Current restrictions remain but authorities are reviewing rules daily.

Mr Stevens, who as the state’s Covid co-ordinator authorises new legal directives, said officials were “closely watching” various Melbourne clusters that were linked to more than 300 exposure sites.

Mr Stevens said no specific rules changes were discussed at Tuesday’s committee meeting but he flagged tightening crowd caps, venue density limits and public movement.

He said restrictions would be reintroduced if SA recorded any community transmission or if Victoria’s patient numbers exploded.

He urged people to get tested for the virus, have a vaccine when eligible and use QR codes when entering businesses.

Grant Stevens said no specific rules changes were discussed at Tuesday’s committee meeting but he flagged tightening crowd caps, venue density limits and public movement. Picture: Mike Burton

He said talks between police and health bosses occurred daily and restrictions would be swiftly imposed if needed.

“If the concerns about Covid-19 getting in (SA) are so significant that we believe steps have to be taken, then we are talking about restricting movement and activity within the state,” Mr Stevens said. “There are no decisions … at this point in time but I think it’s fair to share that sort of consideration with the community, because people need to appreciate just how seriously we take this.

“I think it would be foolish of everybody if they weren’t giving some thought to the fact that we’re neighbouring a state which is dealing with a very significant issue.”

He said health advice centred on a “significant” number of Melbourne exposure sites, rising cases and an explosion of close contacts.

There are still concerns that more than 27,000 people who travelled to SA from Victoria since May 6 are yet to respond to an SA Health alert. More than 2000 people are in quarantine in SA.

“I think it’s fair to say that none of these decisions we’ve made in relation to imposing restrictions are taken lightly,” Mr Stevens said.

“We’re acutely aware of the impact that might have on hospitality … businesses, families, and social situations. None of us … want to do this.”

Adelaide’s biggest clinic at Victoria Park will now operate around-the-clock indefinitely. SA Health recorded no new cases on Tuesday.