Covid SA: Restrictions to ease in SA from Dec 28

Stand up if you’re vaccinated, sit down if you’re not … there’s a raft of changes to virus rules coming in time for New Year’s celebrations.

Vaccinated South Australians can dance, sing and herald in the new year standing with a drink as a “reward” for getting the jab despite the state recording a record rise in Covid-19 cases.

A “substantial” easing of restrictions will occur from December 28 – Proclamation Day – as the state hits 90 per cent double vaccination.

But Friday’s announcement emerged as SA Health reported its highest daily rise of 64 new cases, a third infectious aged-care worker was identified and a surge in demand overwhelmed testing queues.

In a “consensus” decision eventually backed by health chiefs, the transition committee ruled a raft of greater freedoms for the vaccinated just before New Year’s Eve.

Premier Steven Marshall, who revealed the details after heading a Covid-ready committee, said it was “reward” for getting vaccinated.

Sarah Harley, Roberto Di Nino and Maddy Brand from Latino Grooves at The Gov in Hindmarsh. Picture: Matt Loxton

HOW RESTRICTIONS WERE GOING TO EASE FROM DEC 28

	Current restriction	Fully vaccinated from Dec 28	Not fully vaccinated from Dec 28
Residential Premises	30 people	No restrictions	No restrictions
Indoor places (restaurants, pubs, theatres, places of worship, sport stadiums, etc)	75% capacity (seated activities) 50% capacity (non-seated activities) No dancing unless at a private function	No density requirements for seated activity (100 % capacity) 75% capacity for standing and/or singing activity, or places with a mix of seated and standing activity	Only seated food and beverage consumption No dancing or singing 75% capacity in all areas
Nightclubs	No dancing unless hosting a private function	50% capacity	Unable to operate
Indoor fitness (gyms, yoga, pilates, swimming, etc)	25% capacity	50% capacity	25% capacity
Large events	Covid Management Plan required for events of more than 1000 people	Covid Management Plan required for events of more than 3000 people	Covid Management Plan required for events of more than 3000 people
International Travel	7-day quarantine (vaccinated), 14-day quarantine (unvaccinated)	3-day isolation and testing protocols will apply	14-day quarantine (in a medi-hotel)

“I think we’re now providing ... an added motivation to go get vaccinated,” he said.

“We put that in the court of the people ... and we gave them a challenge but we’re not going to meet it by Christmas.”

The roadmap out of restrictions scraps home gathering caps and boosts event crowds.

Capacity restrictions will be abandoned for “no jab, no entry” at licensed venues, theatres, functions centres, places of worships sports stadiums and personal care salons.

Nightclubs will operate for vaccinated patrons, who can also drink while standing and dance in licensed venues.

Gyms, dance, fitness and swimming centres and group fitness sites will be at 50 per cent with vaccinated customers.

Venues that do not enforce a mandate for patrons or staff face more restrictions.

Jabbed international travellers must quarantine for only 72 hours – it’s currently a week.

Masks must still be worn at indoor public locations and transport and contact quarantine rules are unchanged.

REPLAY THE PRESS CONFERENCE BELOW

Senior government sources said SA Health forecasts showed the 90 per cent target could be hit any time from December 23 to January 3 but authorities had agreed a midway date.

Police Commissioner and state co-ordinator Grant Stevens said the “substantial” changes were “measured and sensible”.

“We anticipate a wave of Covid coming through the community and there will be a peak,” he said.

“Once we have passed that peak, we can then start to look at removing all these other restrictions we have.”

Admitting contact tracers were overwhelmed, chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said not all infectious cases would be telephoned.

She said authorities would prioritise high-risk sectors and focus would be on the number of patients in hospital, not case data.