Adelaide shopping centres, supermarkets teeming with people ahead of Mother’s Day as SA moves to ease restrictions
South Australians are being warned restrictions will not be eased if people do not exercise proper social distancing as shoppers turned out in droves ahead of Mother’s Day.
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South Australians are being urged to continue exercising social distancing and engaging in proper hygiene practices as thousands of people hit the shops on Saturday.
On the eve of Mother’s Day, Westfield Marion was busy on Saturday afternoon, a day after SA unveiled a roadmap to get the economy back on course.
Adelaide Central Market was also doing a roaring trade.
Central Market General Manager Jodie Kannane said additional security and more frequent public announcements for social distancing were implemented for shopping on Saturday.
“Highly visible” decals and signage re-inforcing social distance rules were also in place across the Market.
“Regular reminders were also given to customers about the importance of social distancing throughout the Market floor,” Ms Kannana said.
She said “key locations” were reviewed throughout the day “and aisles were closed off as required to further increase social distancing for customers and reduce traffic flow”.
Meanwhile, long lines were seen at Pasadena Foodland as customers waited to enter the store under current customer social distancing limits.
A police patrol attended the Pasadena shopping centre after a shopper rang authorities with concerns that people weren’t social distancing just before 1pm.
A police spokeswoman said the patrol found no breaches and no warnings or fines were issued.
On Friday, Premier Steven Marshall unveiled a detailed plan to reboot SA’s economy after Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined this Three State plan to set up a COVIDSafe economy by July this year.
Just two cases remain active in SA with 99.5 per cent of cases already recovered.
Asked whether complacency was creeping in to the wider community, SA’s chief public health officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, urged people to maintain social distancing.
“It is a very fine balance between feeling confident to go out, and that is very important for people’s well-being that level of anxiety is reduced within our community,” she said earlier on Saturday while vising Discovery Parks - Adelaide Beachfront at Semaphore with Premier Steven Marshall.
“But on the other hand I have had people tell me they have been to the local supermarket and people really aren’t keeping to the 1.5m (rule) when they are queuing.
“So I really want to ask South Australians, it is so important that we all do this together. If we don’t continue to do that social distancing and the hygiene then we won’t be able to lift up the restrictions.
“We have to do this together hand in hand. Government can only do so much... but at the end of the day it is up to every single South Australian to heed the message – keep 1.5m away from each other.
“You have got to keep washing your hands and if you are sick you are not to go out and spread your germs around.”
Premier Steven Marshall also urged people to remain “very vigilant” around the risks.
“We need to be maintaining our social distancing and our physical distancing,” Mr Marshall said.
“We have come a long way and the worst thing that we could do now is to go backwards.
“There is no doubt that Friday’s announcement - of the framework for the road back for Australia - has made people in South Australia more confident about the future.
“We have seen some increased activity today in the lead up to Mother’s Day.
“It’s great for jobs but we cannot go backwards in terms of our physical distancing and our social distancing.
“But I am confident people in South Australia will get this right.”
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The second phase of eased restrictions will begin from June 8.
Changes regarding cinemas and theatres, seated dining, galleries and museums, beauty salons, driving lessons, gyms, further easing on funerals and competitive sport, will be considered.
-Additional reporting by Gabriel Polychronis and Matt Gilbertson