Coronavirus SA: dancing while drinking booze on hold for months as authorities wait for successful COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Restrictions for “high risk” venues will continue despite four being given the green light to have alcohol back on the dancefloor.

SA chief medical officer Nicola Spurrier says areas with poor airflow remain higher risk. Picture: Mike Burton

Dancing while drinking alcohol at approved public venues will remain policed for months while authorities monitor coronavirus vaccine successes, the state’s COVID-19 health chief has warned.

Ahead of Tuesday’s Transition Committee meeting, chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said indoor activities in poorly ventilated and crowded areas remained the “highest risk for super spreading events”.

Professor Spurrier said this meant rules banning unrestricted dancing and drinking in licensed venues would be unlikely to be eased before the national vaccination rollout.

Prof Spurrier said since December, SA Health has authorised dancing and simultaneous drinking alcohol in four nightclubs with strict conditions outlined in special management plans. Another two are being assessed, and a further two have been rejected.

“With returning travellers from overseas and higher rates of COVID-19 in other countries, there remains a real risk of COVID-19 to the South Australian community,” she said.

“Restrictions are currently in place for different public activities dependant on the level risk of potential transmission, with indoor, poorly ventilated, crowded environments the highest risk for super spreading events.

“Health authorities will monitor the impact of the COVID-19 vaccination going forward including drinking and dancing.”

Clubs and the Australian Hotels Association have called for drinking and dancing to return unrestricted as venue operators face mounting losses.

Nightclub managers say new rules that allow people to dance and drink at the same time with draconian restrictions are confusing and will be difficult to police.

The Advertiser revealed in mid-December how SA Health had told venues they could submit special management plans for dancing and drinking for the first time since March 23.

Safeguards to limit the risk of spreading COVID-19, include a cap of 200 patrons, ticketed events, a 50 per cent capacity limit and no mosh pits.

Venues were originally told revellers would not be allowed to go to more than one nightclub on the same night but this was later clarified.

On Tuesday night, Prof Spurrier urged people to continue using QR codes.

“Every time someone checks in using a QR code, it is a safeguard for … fast-tracked contact tracing,” she said.

Her comments emerged as dramas with the state’s QR code system were blamed on a security overhaul amid concerns that users were becoming complacent about the government-managed technology.

The Government revealed a security upgrade caused user problems, after the Sunday Mail reported falling use.

Originally published as Coronavirus SA: dancing while drinking booze on hold for months as authorities wait for successful COVID-19 vaccine rollout