SA dancing and drinking ban to be lifted, border restrictions for Greater Melbourne eased from midnight Thursday night

A ban on drinking and dancing will be lifted, and SA’s border restrictions with Greater Melbourne will be removed from midnight Thursday night.

Dancing while drinking alcohol in pubs and clubs is back but with caps to numbers and Victorian border restrictions will be lifted – both from midnight Thursday night, SA authorities have announced.

Dancing while drinking will be allowed for venues with 200 or fewer people, as long as other COVID rules are followed including QR codes, COVID marshals and one person per 2 sqm.

Dancing will also be allowed for venues with between 200 and 1000 people in a permitted area – with a maximum of 50 people, as long as COVID rules are followed.

Venues with more than 1000-patron capacity who want dancing need permission from SA Health and a change to their COVID-management.

The Garden of Unearthly Delight opening night. Picture Dean Martin

SA’s border restrictions on Greater Melbourne will be lifted at 12.01am Friday. People entering SA from that time will not need a test.

People from Greater Melbourne who are quarantining in South Australia at the moment can finish their quarantine period as of 12.01am Friday. However, people who visited Tier 1-designated areas in Greater Melbourne still need to isolate for 14 days.

“As of 12.01am Friday, this will only be the 19th day since the 13th of March that we have not had any restrictions with any other jurisdiction travelling into South Australia - that’s a significant milestone in itself,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.

SA also has recorded one new case – an international traveller who is not infectious. They will not be moved to the quarantine medi-hotel.

The moves were announced at a press conference fronted by Premier Steven Marshall, Mr Stevens and chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier, following a meeting of the Transition Committee this morning.

Asked why venues with between 200 and 1000 patrons were restricted to 50 people dancing in a designated – while no such restrictions existed for venues with fewer than 200 people – Prof Spurrier said it was to make it easier for contact tracers, if a case emerged.

The new dancing rules are designed to stop big nightclubs allowing large numbers of people dancing, she said.

“When you get people in a dark, close area, often alcohol is involved, we know that allows super spreading,” she said.

Victoria also has a limit on 50 people dancing at one time in mid-sized venues.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier addresses the press. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

The easing of dance rules come after an Adelaide DJ asked to turn his music off at the Garden of Unearthly Delights on Saturday night called on the State Government to ease confusing dance restrictions.

Event organisers asked DJ Pedro Moshman, who was playing ambient music outdoors, to turn his music off after patrons continued to dance despite being reminded of the no dance requirement due to COVID-19.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens denied police had been too heavy-handed with enforcing bans on dancing in the Garden of Unearthly Delights.

He said lifting the ban on dancing and drinking could not take place until the situation in Victoria had stabilised.

“These restrictions are put in place with advice from health – we are not doing this lightly. We expect people to comply (with restrictions),” he said.

He said police would crack down when business operated outside of their conditions.

“We acknowledge sometimes it’s beyond the control of venues to control what their patrons do.”

Mr Stevens said police patrols would be out in Adelaide’s entertainment precincts but wanted to first support venues, rather than look for breaches.

“We are focusing on COVID compliance … they are briefed on the new directions and will monitor people’s compliance and advise the venues looking to move to the new directions

“We are there to support the community.

“There is an ebb and flow here – venues understand the rules and we have COVID marshals in place for this very reason. They should remind people and venues (of the directions).

“It’s the same as the service of alcohol – there is an obligation in place and you must adhere to it.

“We are not there to look for a literal breach, we are looking for an effort. But it’s clear when things are done wrong.

“We are not covid-free in Australia, but we are in an excellent position.

“We cannot guarantee leakage from covid motels so we have to have base restrictions in place for SA Health.”