Australia reacts to ‘chaotic’ SA shutdown amid coronavirus outbreak

We’ve just seen Victoria go through it, and while South Australia is only being locked for six days, there’s already chaos.

More harrowing stories from the COVID-19 pandemic are already emerging as South Australia heads into a short, sharp lockdown.

While many are embracing the six-day lockdown to get on top of the state’s coronavirus outbreak, others fear it will be too much for them to handle.

One woman said surgery for her daughter had been cancelled, they couldn’t have a funeral for her grandfather and could not comfort her grieving mum.

When another woman shared her fears as a vulnerable South Australian, one person commented: “This is what politicians are doing to some of the most vulnerable in our communities - making them feel even more vulnerable and terrifying them with hysterical COVID lockdowns. The harm they’re causing can be lifelong.”

Another person said the state’s reaction was over the top.

“Any chance there is confusion with SA South Africa which had 1987 cases yesterday,” they wrote on Twitter.

“Adelaide only had 5 Covid cases today with 34 active cases. WOW what an over-reaction! There obviously is no such thing as COVID Normal.”

RELATED: South Australia’s terrifying new virus strain

I'm due for a pacemaker replacement in the New Year. And I'm f😔fcking terrified! I'm expendable. I know that. And I'm a burden on Society. I have tried so hard not to be. This will be my 8th pacemaker. But I haven't come this far & survived so much to give up. #SAlockdown

— President-Elect LittleMissPaceSetter (@TyphoidMary7) November 18, 2020

south australia is going to turn into victoria 2.0 bye i hate it here

— jasmin (@aftergIowws) November 18, 2020

No surgery for daughter.
No yr 7 camp, aquatics & high school transition for son.
No funeral for Poppa.
No hugs with Mum who just lost her dad.

Feeling loads of disappointment & sadness but we have beer, wine, food & chocolate. We'll be ok... I hope.#SAlockdown #COVIDSA

— Kristy Fairlamb - LUMINOUS is out now! (@kristy_fairlamb) November 18, 2020

What I used to do: IT
What I currently do: Land manager
What I am doing for the foreseeable future: sewing facemasks

It's chaos here. #southaustralia #SAlockdown. pic.twitter.com/wTdJY7IKhG

— Shaun Branden (@parsect) November 18, 2020

Adelaide Day 5 with the bottle o shut #SAlockdown pic.twitter.com/Fx73S8cBoY

— Jaz (@missxhuntress) November 18, 2020

This morning I could take a stroll. Get set for working from home and re-centre. I’m so glad I appreciated the moment. As of midnight confined to barracks and I have to say a little daunted by the next few weeks .... #SAlockdown #selfcare pic.twitter.com/DYv7oSLlX5

— Karoona Fairy 🧚‍♂️ (@karoonafairy) November 18, 2020

Massive testing queues have been seen in Adelaide. Picture: David Mariuz/Getty Images

Most people have praised SA’s reaction following Victoria’s outbreak, saying it’s what’s needed to contain the spread quickly.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicole Spurrier said the lockdown was being implemented because the particular strain in the state was spreading to next “generations” quickly.

South Australians reacted by panic buying and stocking up on booze to get them through the next six days, and people weren’t happy about it.

Was in the baby food aisle this afternoon and spoke with a single mum, who was visibly upset because she shops fortnightly and was trying to buy food for her kids but there was barely anything left. She was so stressed about feeding her children for the next 6 days...#SAlockdown

— Jessie Cope (@artist_access) November 18, 2020

#SAlockdown desire to be ‘all in this together ‘ nullified by disgust at pillaging of supermarket shelves mentality

— Jacqui (@jacquivs) November 18, 2020

Police initially put bottle shops on the banned list, before adding it to their list of essential services yesterday.

One bottle shop owner told ABC News his usual daily sales of $3000 had jumped to a massive $35,000 – that’s an increase of more than 1000 per cent.

Some people have made the most of a bad situation, looking forward to six days at home.

One woman shared how her cousin quickly moved their wedding to tonight, before the lockdown comes into effect at midnight.

And some are reassured by knowing celebrities are having to bunker down too.

Zac Efron was spotted shopping in Adelaide’s mall, getting some boots at the weekend.

NOT A JOKE a friend’s cousin who was supposed to be getting married this w/e in #Adelaide has bumped the wedding forward to tonight (10 ppl max, soshi-distanced)! Also everyone has to be home by the strike of midnight.... a literal #Cinderella story! #coronalove #covid #sa

— Gabriella Marchant (@gabby_marchant) November 18, 2020

#SAlockdown is a good thing for the state! for those who have a safe place to spend the next six days, honestly let’s just look at this as a good opportunity to chill at home watching the crown ✌️

— Lerb (@LibertyPetersen) November 18, 2020

I've just gotta say during all this chaos I'm beginning to crush on Professor Spurrier..🔥 #SAlockdown

— Andy...🇦🇺 (@Andythatwitt) November 18, 2020

zac efron is stuck in adelaide with us......WERE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

— geo ♡ (@tendouou) November 18, 2020

Also, world.

We have Zac Efron and we're not giving him back now.

— Oli Young (@oliyoung) November 18, 2020

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall provided an update on the state’s coronavirus situation this morning.

Mr Marshall told ABC News Breakfast that it was “very likely” the state was going to make masks mandatory as South Australia deals with a particularly difficult strain of coronavirus.

“We have a particularly difficult strain of the disease, which is showing no symptoms for people who become infected,” Mr Marshall said.

“We also know that, of course, it is highly contagious, and we believe it’s possibly transmitted from surfaces.

“The other thing that we know is that the incubation period for this particular strain is very short, and it can be down to 24 hours.

“So, for all of those reasons, the very clear advice from the public health officials yesterday was to put this pause, this circuit breaker, in place so that we could get on top of the contact tracing and get every single person that we can into that quarantine situation as quickly as possible, so that we can ease those restrictions on the rest of our state.”