Adelaide, SA lockdown: Residents flee interstate ahead of restrictions

Hundreds of South Australians have managed to arrive in Sydney in just enough time to escape their state’s six-day hard lockdown.

Hundreds of travellers from South Australia have fled to Sydney just in time to escape their state’s six-day “circuit breaker” lockdown.

The short, sharp lockdown, which began today, is aimed at getting on top of South Australia’s recent COVID-19 outbreak.

Yesterday Sydney Airport saw the arrival of three fully booked flights from Adelaide, with passengers visibly happy to have made it across the border in time.

One passenger told 7 News he booked his ticket to Sydney within minutes of South Australia Premier Steven Marshall announcing the lockdown.

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Relieved passengers from South Australia have made it to Sydney just in time to escape the South Australian lockdown. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Arrivals from Adelaide wait for their luggage at Sydney Airport on Wednesday. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

“I was holding the booking online as the Premier of South Australia was speaking and as soon as he said a couple of comments, I confirmed it and within 30 minutes the flight was fully booked,” the passenger said.

Another passenger told 9 News he was relieved to make it home to NSW before South Australia’s new restrictions kicked in.

“I was seriously concerned they would shut the borders so I had to get an earlier flight into NSW,” the passenger, Ruben Gurie, said.

“I live in NSW so I had to get back … I am seriously glad to be home.”

Arrivals underwent health screenings, including temperature checks, before they were able to leave Sydney Airport but they are not required to quarantine.

In-bound passengers from Adelaide at Sydney Airport on Wednesday. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

The travellers made it interstate just in time to avoid lockdown. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

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Back in South Australia, there have been reports of panic buying as the lockdown came into effect at midnight.

For six days, schools are closed as well as shops, pubs, cafes, food courts, takeaway food outlets and factories.

Weddings and funerals are banned and elective surgery has been called off, as well as outdoor sports and exercise.

Regional travel is banned and South Australians need to wear masks when leaving their house, which is only allowed for essential reasons.

“We have woken up to a very different South Australia today,” Mr Marshall said this morning on the first day of the lockdown.

“We need this circuit breaker to protect the vulnerable, the elderly and the rest of South Australia.”

Mr Marshall said the six-day lockdown was because there was still “potentially thousands of South Australians who have visited sites of concern and they could be carrying the disease”.

The state recorded zero new cases today, but there are concerns cases currently linked to the Parafield cluster could grow.