Capacity in SA to rise to 75 per cent for seated activities but authorities fear another Covid outbreak from NSW

Authorities have allowed a “modest” change in capacity for seated venues, while warning another Covid “incursion” from NSW is expected. A man in his 20s has been admitted to ICU.

Health authorities have agreed to a “modest” easing of restrictions for seated venues, remaining highly concerned about another Covid outbreak from NSW.

Venues such as pubs, restaurants and cinemas can go to back to three people per 4sq m from midnight Wednesday.

The increasingly volatile situation in NSW – where 356 cases were recorded on Tuesday, and four deaths – has led to a range of different capacity rules, meaning gyms and spectators for indoor sport remains at 25 per cent, while retail and spectators for outdoor sport is at 50 per cent.

SA Health authorities were overruled at Tuesday’s powerful transition committee meeting for the second time in as many weeks, with chief health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier pushing to stay at 50 per cent capacity for seated venues.

She said she expected another “incursion” of Covid from NSW and wanted a “series of brakes” for when that happened.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens overruled the decision but conceded “we are highly likely to have another outbreak in South Australia” and that authorities were working hard to strike a balance between public health and keeping SA businesses afloat during this difficult time.

It comes as a 20-year-old related to the Modbury cluster, who was asymptomatic when he tested positive for Covid was admitted to ICU yesterday afternoon. He is currently in a stable condition.

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Restrictions to ease

Mr Marshall announced the “modest easing of restrictions in South Australia” but said mask rules and other restrictions would remain in place for now. Borders will not change.

Capacity for seated activities – from pubs to cinemas – will rise to three people to 4sq m, or 75 per cent. This includes seated food and beverage – where rules remains – and clubs, churches and businesses.

However, standing activities such as spectators for outdoor sports matches and at retail stores, will be one person per 2sq m.

At indoor sports centres and gyms it will remain at 1 person per 4 sqm.

Home gatherings remains capped at 10 people. Birthday parties in a park or hall can now have at 50 for private gathering – the same caps for wedding and funerals.

Wedding receptions must abide by the density arrangements at that venue. But there is still a ban on dancing or singing.

People wearing masks in Rundle Mall. Masks rules are not likely to change any time soon. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Anything with more than 1000 people must have a Covid-management plan activity these new eased restrictions do not apply to them.

The restrictions ease from midnight Wednesday. Mr Stevens said it would be unlikely to see a further easing of restrictions soon.

“We are taking this in a prudent, careful way. We do not want to be going back into lockdown here in South Australia,” Mr Marshall said.

“The reality is, we could be at this point for quite some time, until we can get our vaccination levels up.”

Business leaders cautiously welcomed the changes but Australian Hotels Association SA chief executive Ian Horne warned the “brutal one-size-fits-all’ rules were inflicting unnecessary damage to regional venues.

“It seems it’s a case of when Adelaide sneezes, the entire state catches a cold,” he said.

Border rules that block all of eastern Australia will remain in place, Mr Marshall said.

“We’re keeping those border restrictions in place. We acknowledge they are tight – they need to be tight,” he said.

Jabs offered to under-40s in ‘error’

Asked about Pfizer Covid vaccinations offered to under-40s at a Highgate Park clinic, Mr Marshall called it “human error”. Only vaccination appointments made this week will be honoured.

“There was a human error – I don’t have the full details of that. The health advice is very very clear and that is that those vaccine doses need to be applied to the most vulnerable.”

He denied unused vaccinations were being wasted at the end of the day.

“There is no suggestion of waste whatsoever,” he said. “We are definitely not wasting vials. I can be certain of that.”

Mr Marshall said there was no advice so far on opening up vaccines to the next age group of 30-40-year-olds.

“But we do get a significant increase of doses from mid-next month. I think from the second week of September we do jump up in terms of the Pfizer doses coming into South Australia.”

Mr Marshall said there were 300 GPs in SA that could offer informed consent on giving AstraZeneca jabs to under-60s.

People under 60 can get an AstraZeneca vaccine but are urged to speak to their GP first.

Prof Spurrier also said there was no wastage of vaccines.

“This is done on a booking service so we know how many vials we need at each service … I don’t think we have any waste here in South Australia.”

Seven active cases, no new cases on Tuesday

Prof Spurrier said there were no new cases on Tuesday, with seven active cases in SA.

There are three Covid patients in hospital, including a man in his 20s linked to the Modbury cluster. He was asymptomatic when tested but is now in ICU.

She urged testing numbers to rise, with just 4096 tests on Tuesday. She said just 40 per cent of those who say they have cold-like symptoms actually get a Covid test.

“We are feeling very good about the Modbury cluster … we got on top of it, but we have a real risk from NSW,” she said.

Between 300 and 700 people a day are coming into our state from NSW, she said.

“The only way we can tell if we have Covid in South Australia is if we get tested. We have to get on to it straight away – it’s everybody’s job.

“If that person (start of Modbury cluster) hadn’t gone to the doctor … it would have spread and we would probably still be in lockdown.”

Prof Spurrier said she had pushed to stay at 50 per cent capacity out of fear of another outbreak from NSW.

“That’s why it took such a long time (at today’s transition committee meeting) to come up with something I’m comfortable with.

“Unfortunately I think we are going to have another incursion, another outbreak – we do need a series of brakes on in out state.

“That’s why I urge you to get tested. Look at Victoria, they come out of lockdown and then they have to shut it down again.”

SA on high alert over NSW

Mr Marshall said authorities were “very concerned with the situation in NSW”.

“There are very high numbers in NSW, 356, it’s clear that’s not going down as expected and consequently the nation is on high alert,” he said.

Mr Stevens the eased restrictions were complicated because of the “significant risk, particularly from NSW and, to a lesser extent, greater Melbourne”.

However, he said it was a “fair proposition” that restrictions would not ease for the foreseeable future, with masks remaining.

He said authorities discussed leaving restrictions but landed on trying to open up the state, leading to a mix of density capacity rules.

“At this point in time, there’s not enough information for us to confidently make a move that would see freer movement between western Victoria and South Australia,” Mr Stevens said.

“We are highly likely to see another outbreak in SA. We might not know for 14 days or so that we have seeding in South Australia.”

It follows South Australia shutting its border to the entire state of Queensland, following an updated travel direction on Sunday.

It prohibited travellers from entering the state unless they have an exemption or are an essential traveller. SA residents are allowed to return home but must quarantine for 14 days.

Cairns and neighbouring Yarrabah have been plunged into lockdown after a case was infectious in the community for 10 days.

All three eastern mainland states – including NSW and Victoria, which are both in full lockdown – are now shut to SA, as the Delta variant continues to wreak havoc in those states.

It follows an announcement on Monday for an additional $40m package to help small to medium businesses through the tough restrictions.

Aged care staff must get vaccinated

The state’s aged-care staff and volunteers must be vaccinated for Covid-19 by September 17, under what are believed to be Australian-first rules.

The new directions emerged after the Human Services Department clinic for disability and aged-care workers sparked a frenzy when it mistakenly offered Pfizer vaccines to anyone under 40.

Premier Steven Marshall blamed human error while chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said she was “stoked” young people were so keen for a jab.

Australian Services Union state secretary Abbie Spencer said mixed federal government messaging on the AstraZeneca jab had resulted in vaccine hesitancy among some staff. “(And) despite SA Health announcing all disability workers can now access Pfizer, regardless of age, members are telling us that simply isn’t true. (Those) over 60 are finding it impossible to (get Pfizer).” But SA Health reinforced age was not a factor.