Restrictions relaxed, borders with most of Qld and NT open as SA’s transition committee meets

SA’s Covid authorities have lifted border restrictions with northern and regional Queensland and most of the NT, and raised the cap on home gatherings.

SA authorities have lifted border restrictions with most of Queensland and the Northern Territory, and raised the cap on home gatherings, but there are no changes to mask restrictions.

Officials meeting this morning at the transition committee meeting decided to lift northern and regional Queensland and NT border restrictions – except for the local government area of Katherine, effective immediately.

“We are expecting further advice later on today that I see Katherine being included in that total lift,” Mr Stevens said.

Travellers from South East Queensland, including those from Brisbane, are now allowed in, but have to have three tests and isolate until their first negative result, the rest of Queensland will have no restrictions.

“We've made a determination that the travel restrictions will be lifted to level three in 11 local government areas that make up southeast Queensland which means people from those government areas can come into South Australia and must undertake day one, five and thirteen testing.”

Mr Stevens also announced a number of changes to restrictions on public activities which will come into effect at 12:01am Saturday morning.

Home gathering limits have been raised from 10 to 20.

Private gatherings outside the home are still capped at 50 but stand up drinking is allowed if there is 1 person per 2 square metres.

“Private gatherings are those functions not held at home and not in a licensed premises, but we are allowing vertical consumption.”

Private functions in licensed premises will now have a cap of 150 people with vertical consumption, but must adhere to a stricter density requirement of one person per two square metres.

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens speaks at a Covid-19 press conference. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Licensed function centres can now have 150 people with stand up drinking for 50 per cent capacity.

“This is something we think the industry will be happy to see, but it will be a decision they have to make in terms of whether you have seated consumption and three people per four square meters, or standing consumption.”

There are no changes to dancing rules.

South Australia’s borders are still closed to NSW, Victoria and the ACT.

Mr Stevens said the level of risk from NSW and Victoria was concerning.

“The Delta strain is giving us concern that we are more likely than not to face ‘seeding’ from those jurisdictions, and we need to be prepared for that and take every opportunity to get on with our activities as much as we can, knowing that there‘s a possibility that we might place further restrictions in a given situation,” he said.

“Our greatest risk comes from New South Wales and Victoria situation and in those two states we have hard borders in place. But, notwithstanding those borders, we’ll still need to allow certain activities to occur between those states including freight movement and that carries risk.”

Authorities are on full alert about the highly contagious Delta strain on the state’s doorstep after the first infectious Covid-19 case was identified in Broken Hill.

Mr Stevens said the cases in Wilcannia and Broken Hill present a significant risk to South Australians.

“The risk is still present and we’re doing as much as we can to manage people entering South Australia from that location.”

Tuesday’s transition committee declined to ease any Covid-19 restrictions after the ill patient travelled through the far west of NSW while infectious in recent days.

Earlier, members of the hospitality industry said they were hoping for a further lifting of density limits.

Pubs and restaurants were able to return to 75 per cent capacity for seated diners from midnight last Wednesday.

Hospitality venue owners are now “future proofing” their businesses with an increased focus on flexible floor plans that can adapt to ever-changing Covid-19 restrictions.