‘Come back to the city’: Premier encourages residents to return to work

CBD workers have been encouraged to come back to the office and spend some money to help hard hit businesses.

South Australians who were previously advised to work from home are now encouraged to return to the office with only 25 per cent of the workforce permitted to go back at one time.

Premier Steven Marshall said he hoped residents would respond and return to the hard-hit CBD.

About a month ago, residents were told to work from home where possible to limit the spread of Omicron.

“We are the first state in Australia to move away from the guidance to work from home,” the premier said on Thursday.

One quarter of the South Australian workforce can return to the office from today. Picture: Russell Millard

“The CBD has been hit really hard so we’re encouraging people back in their offices and … particularly encouraging them to get out and spend some money in their local shops.

“There are also people who want to increase it faster but our primary responsibility is the safety of South Australians and I think this is a good first step. We’ll monitor what happens with this.”

Masks in offices are strongly advised and having lunch breaks outdoors is also encouraged.

Just last week Mr Marshall announced one quarter of the workforce could to return to the office from January 27.

Residents are encouraged to return to the hard-hit CBD and spend money. Picture: Russell Millard

Mr Marshall said authorities had “concerns” about the level of restrictions on the hospitality sector and anticipated relaxing density requirements in venues would be the first restrictions to be looked at.

“We’re just looking at the effects of easing those restrictions. We don’t want a significant second wave.

“We think we’re getting to that point where we can start to ease those.

“It is crippling on small businesses having those density requirements in place so that will be our highest priority.”

South Australia recorded 1953 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. Picture: NCA NewsWire Christian Gilles

It comes as the state recorded 1953 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours.

“These numbers do bob around but this is significantly below the seven day average now,” Mr Marshall said.

“I think we are definitely past our peak now here in South Australia.”

There were also 13 deaths reported on Thursday but not all of them happened over the past day and instead occurred over a two-week period.

Currently, 288 people in hospital with 27 in ICU and five on a ventilator.