New restrictions for SA as concerns grow over spread of Delta variant

Queues are forming at Covid testing stations across Adelaide, as tough new restrictions come into force – and panic-buying returns in some areas.

South Australians have been hit with a raft of tough new Covid-19 rules as authorities scramble to stop the dangerous Delta coronavirus strain from infiltrating the state.

Two new cases emerged on Tuesday, both from overseas, a woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s. Both are in a medi-hotel. There are eight active cases in SA.

SA recorded a “massive day” of more than 8300 tests on Monday, Premier Steven Marshall said, and a record 33,000 vaccines at SA Health sites last week.

In extreme measures from 12.01am on Tuesday, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens imposed restrictions on licensed venues, public events, gyms, home gatherings, weddings, funerals and singing. Dancing is banned in nightclubs and licensed premises.

Masks are also mandatory in high-risk settings.

The restrictions – announced a day after a hard border was imposed on every state and territory apart from Victoria and Tasmania – are planned for a week but authorities will review them daily.

The Delta variant has not been recorded in SA. No new cases were recorded on Monday.

People are line up in their cars for Covid testing at Victoria Park on Tuesday morning. Picture Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Marshall on Tuesday defended the new restrictions, saying he believed the “balance was right”.

“We’ve taken proactive steps, we hope we’ll keep a lockdown at bay in SA.

“We’ve got to be flexible and responsive to the circumstances we’re facing, that’s what we’ve done since day one.”

Havelock Hotel venue manager Michael Hanlan. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Authorities said there was the “potential” the strain linked to Sydney’s Bondi cluster had spread to SA but evidence would take several days to register.

Business groups said they would reluctantly abide by health advice to prevent a lockdown but warned it would cost the economy more than $30m as the national Covid-19 crisis continued to escalate.

Ian Horne, chief executive of the Australian Hotels Association (SA branch), said operators would abide by the 50 per cent capacity – for the first time in four months – as they suffered cancellations.

“But, my goodness, it comes at a very high price for our industry,” he said.

Business SA chief executive Martin Haese said that despite being inconvenient, the alternative of a lockdown would be “catastrophic”.

Announcing the new measures after crisis talks between SA Police and SA Health, Mr Marshall said the rules protected Australia’s most relaxed lifestyle. He also pleaded with ill people with even the slightest of flu-like symptoms to get tested.

“We have an enviable position in SA. We want to defend that enviable position and that’s why we’ve taken a very proactive action,” he said.

“We don’t want lockdowns, it’s as simple as that. We’ve got to do everything we can to stop that coming to SA.

“We’ve got to do everything we can to protect ourselves.”

New legal directions ban patrons from standing while drinking alcohol in pubs, clubs or restaurants and they can only operate at half capacity – from a current 75 per cent density – for the first time since March 31. Similar restrictions will be placed on public activities such as events and gyms.

Mr Stevens imposed crowd caps of 150 guests for home gatherings – from a current 200 people – and hall events. Weddings and funerals are subject to similar rules unless they are held at licensed venues, which involves caps of at one person per 2sq m.

Masks must also be worn in high-risk locations such as aged-care homes, hospitals and personal care businesses, including hairdressers or beauty salons.

Authorities “highly recommended” masks be worn on public transport, including taxis and Uber-style hire cars.

Premier Steven Marshall announces South Australia will tighten Covid restrictions. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

People are urged to wear masks in public, especially among crowds, in shopping centres and supermarkets.

Events approved by SA Health for more than 1000 will be reviewed, including crowds at Adelaide Oval for Saturday’s AFL clash between Adelaide and Brisbane. No work-from-home orders have been imposed.

Havelock Hotel manager Michael Hanlan said four functions were cancelled this weekend in the Hutt St venue.

“These restrictions are an over-reaction – we don’t have any cases but the first to be hit are pubs, yet again,” he said.

Mr Stevens and chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier denied they had overreacted. Prof Spurrier said the new rules were the best option.

“Borders remain porous,” she said. “This is not just a sort of minimal risk. This is actually a really significant risk.

“If we get this Delta strain in our community, with the behaviours that we have been used to up until this point, we will have a very serious problem that I can’t promise we’ll get on top of.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier discusses the new restrictions. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“So, this is trying to prevent a very serious problem.”

Prof Spurrier said she did not want lockdowns such as those that had been imposed in Sydney and Darwin.

“If anyone is, you know, wants to think about what kind of problem it could be, have a look at NSW at the moment,” she said.

“We’re putting on a reasonably light set of restrictions for a relatively short period.”

Mr Stevens said police officers would educate the public with a “reasonableness test”.

“I think there are probably many more South Australians who are … somewhat relieved to see that we’re taking some positive action to ensure that we can maintain the level of protection that we’ve enjoyed,” he said.

“I think we’re in a much better position now we’ve taken some proactive steps to slow things down … so we can respond more effectively and possibly minimise the risk of the virus spreading than having to take more harsh steps to quash movement and get on top of an outbreak.”

EARLIER

Professor Spurrier said at the start of the pandemic, every Covid case in SA had potential to spread to two-and-a-half people – but that had now changed with the advent of the Delta variant.

“At the moment in South Australia, our effective reproduction number is well over three-and-a-half,” Professor Spurrier said on Sunday.

“And that’s because we have very few restrictions in place, but we’re also dealing with the Delta variant, which is very, very transmissible … this (strain) is passing like wildfire.

The current spread of the virus in other states is the biggest threat SA has experienced since the first wave.

“At the moment, we would say our community is a bit of a tinderbox and we are very concerned if we get undetected cases it will take off very rapidly.”

Currently South Australians are able to have an unlimited number of people at homes for gatherings, with a Covid management plan needed for more than 50 people.

Venues are allowed one person every 2 sqm.

Mask wearing is not required in public spaces.

What is the Delta variant?

The Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2 was first detected in India where it began circulating around April.

It was given the new name by the WHO to simplify its scientific name, B. 1.617.2, and to avoid stigmatising countries that detect new strains

It is now present to varying degrees in at least 85 countries according to the WHO.

In Europe, Delta initially gained a foothold in the United Kingdom, where it quickly outpaced the previous variant of concern Alpha, and now comprises 95 per cent of all sequenced cases in England.

Why is Delta such a concern?

The Delta strain is thought to be between 40 to 60 per cent more contagious than the Alpha strain, which was a previous concern.

The Delta variant has mutated and can attach to human cells more easily. The World Health Organisation have said the strain is the “fastest and fittest” spreading variant so far.

It can spread within seconds of strangers passing each other.

Where has it spread?

In the United States last week 35 per cent of positive tests that were sequenced were identified as the Delta variant, up from about 10 per cent on June 5 – numbers similar to what is being observed in Israel.

The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) has estimated Delta could account for 70 per cent of new infections in the EU by the beginning of August and 90 per cent by the end of that month.

Researchers looking at data from the greater Paris region estimate in a soon-to-be-published report that Delta could be as much as 50 to 80 per cent more contagious than other strains.

Do Delta’s symptoms differ?

In addition to the higher transmissibility, there are anecdotal reports from India that the Delta variant is more severe in children than the so-called Alpha strain.

And doctors treating patients in India have reported disturbing new symptoms, including gangrene and hearing loss.

Do vaccines work for the Delta variant?

Top US infectious disease scientist Dr Anthony Fauci called the variant the “greatest threat” to efforts to control the virus and called for an acceleration in vaccinations, US media reported.

While several studies have shown that vaccines are slightly less effective against Delta, they are still highly effective, but only after the second dose.

Recent data from the UK government shows that full immunisation can offer about 96 per cent protection against hospitalisation and 79 per cent protection against symptomatic infection by the Delta variant.

Protection after only one dose, however, is much weaker — 35 per cent, according to the same data.

“One dose is not enough,” says a public health notice from the ECDC, “full vaccination is needed to protect the most vulnerable.”