Your guide on how life will change in South Australia when we reach 90 per cent vaccinated
We’ve all heard that life will be more normal when SA reaches the 90 per cent fully vaccinated milestone – but what exactly will change? And when are we likely to reach that milestone?
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When South Australia hits its target of 90 per cent of the state aged 12 and up being fully vaccinated, in theory all restrictions including capacity caps on venues should drop.
Premier Steven Marshall told The Advertiser the transition committee – which decides which restrictions to ease – will “no longer exist” once the 90 per cent target is reached as it will be redundant.
However, the Omicrom variant has already changed conditions for international arrivals as well as some domestic arrivals, and any new strain could again shift the goalposts.
Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas appears to believe we will need both the directions committee which decides to impose restrictions and the transition committee well into 2022, as he has pledged to chair both if Labor is elected in the March 19 election.
Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier says SA has moved from an elimination strategy to a suppression strategy, so don’t throw away your mask and forget about QR coding just yet regardless of vaccination rates.
WHEN IS IT LIKELY TO HAPPEN?
Current modelling shows that we’re expected to hit the 90 per cent fully vaccinated rate for those aged 12 and up in early-to-mid January.
Premier Steven Marshall said on Thursday that the government would need a “few more days” before it sets a date for the easing of restrictions.
“In the lead-up to hitting 80 per cent we set a date and we’ll be doing exactly the same with 90,” Premier Steven Marshall said.
“We just need a few more days to see what that run rate is going to be in South Australia.”
AS THINGS STAND:
When 90 per cent of the state aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated, borders will open to all fully vaccinated domestic travellers without any quarantine requirements.
When 90 per cent of the state aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated, international travellers with both jabs will not have to quarantine on arrival. Unvaccinated arrivals face 14 days quarantine.
Caps on numbers at venues and functions as well as at parties at homes are expected to be removed when 90 per cent of the state are fully vaccinated, but Covid management plans will still be required for events of more than 1000 people.
The state government’s Covid-ready road map notes that “restrictions on most activities lifted” at 90 per cent but does not specify what restrictions will remain or for what activities.
Activities now considered “high risk”, like going to nightclubs and standing up to drink alcohol, will be only available to people who are fully vaccinated when 90 per cent of people aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated. It is unclear who is expected to police the vaccination status of drinkers who are standing.
Masks will continue to be required in high risk settings like hospitals and aged-care facilities even when 90 per cent of the state is fully vaccinated.
QR codes will continue to be required for the foreseeable future as part of the strategy to manage Covid in the community.
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