South Australia kicks off the COVID blues and comes out to play

After three days of shutdown, South Australians kicked off the COVID-19 blues and came out to play again.

An almost untouched bottle of water sits between cycling friends Steve Foreman and Brad Lonsdale. Two empty water glasses stand guard either side of the bottle. But liquid refreshment has been taken.

In front of both men are well-supped, foam-streaked schooners of Carlton Draught.

“We are rehydrating,’’ Steve said with a laugh. And the water? “The water is to wash our hands. For COVID.’’

The pair have earned their beer. And not just because it’s the end of lockdown. They celebrated their freedom by going on an 80km bike ride that took them to Henley Beach and Seacliff, then back to their usual finishing spot at The ­Colonist in Norwood.

They usually have breakfast at the end of a ride, but the pub didn’t have time to replenish stocks, so it was going to be lunch instead.

“The ones I feel sorry for are the pubs and food places,’’ said Steve, a 67-year-old retiree.

But both agree the lockdown was justified to avoid the possibility of a COVID second wave. “I don’t think it was a big price to pay,’’ said Brad. “Thank God we don’t live in Melbourne.’’

It was a sentiment echoed by many on Sunday. There was general relief as the harsh ­restrictions on movement ­imposed as part of last week’s COVID-related panic eased as of midnight and South Australians could again pop out their front door.

It took a little while to get started, though. Perhaps it was the weather that kept people at home early. The thunder and lightning and sweaty humidity making it the most un-Adelaide of days to emerge from temporary hibernation.

But the silent roads of recent days gradually started to fill. The drive-through queues at fast-food joints started to lengthen, there were long lines outside open inspections, the Marion shopping centre and Rundle Mall again rumbled with the footsteps of thousands of eager customers.

The start of the working week today will see another turn towards normality, even though many are still likely to work from home. That’s not a luxury everyone can afford.

Ben Reardon and Ben Manna enjoying a beer at the Exeter Hotel. Picture Dean Martin

Ben Manna works as a casual in the crane hire industry and so wasn’t paid as the economy shut down on Thursday and Friday.

“I maybe lost $1000 of work but that’s better than being shut down to Christmas and beyond,’’ Manna says.

Many others were looking on the bright side, talking up the benefits of a few unexpected days at home.

Thirteen-year-old Sienna Johnson started a business selling friendship bracelets for family and friends. The Year 8 student at St Michael’s College quickly had so many orders (50c for anklets and necklaces, $1 or bracelets), she had to rope in her younger sister, Frankie, to help. “We’ve been making them non-stop since Friday,’’ Sienna said. “I think we will keep going because people seem to like them.’’

For some kids, having no school for two days didn’t mean they weren’t learning.

Sisters Sienna and Frankie Johnson enjoying being out and about at Grange Jetty Picture: Keryn Stevens

Lining up with 100 others outside Kmart at Firle just before its 11am opening, eight-year-old Sophia, with mum Marie Roach, said she had been teaching herself how to make PowerPoint presentations.

“It’s been fun,’’ Sophia said of lockdown. “I got to go on the computer a lot.’’

Her mother, who works in healthcare, confirmed Sophia was already more advanced on PowerPoint than she was.

Marie said lockdown had been “intense’’.

“It was sudden and unexpected, but completely justified,’’ she said. “With the information the government had, it was a great decision.’’

Marie and Sophie were both wearing masks while waiting to shop at Kmart. The ratio of mask-wearers to those without was about 50-50 and Marie said she was disappointed that more shoppers hadn't covered up despite a strong recommendation to do so from chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier.

That ratio was consistent in many areas seen by The Advertiser.

Back at The Colonist, Steve Foreman said that, despite all the controversy about the lies of the pizza shop worker and the short-lived lockdown, he still had faith in Prof Spurrier, Premier Steven Marshall and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

“We have three top people working as a team, as opposed to other states, and I think they are good.”