Leigh St venue Plain Jane hit with $5k fine after filming Covid breach and posting it to social media

An Adelaide bar has been fined after it filmed people dancing and not wearing masks and posted the breach on Instagram. It comes as the state records another day of high Covid case numbers.

An Adelaide bar has been slapped with a fine after posting videos to its own social media platforms featuring dozens of patrons breaking Covid rules, while the state has recorded another day of case numbers higher than 1700.

Plain Jane on Leigh St posted the eight videos to its Instagram page on Sunday evening which pictured people dancing and standing up without wearing masks.

After being contacted by The Advertiser, Plain Jane deleted the videos and admitted “there may have been a breach”.

Plain Jane nightclub's Instagram story on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Picture: Plain Jane

SA Police launched an investigation into the alleged breach, and the venue was handed a $5000 fine on Thursday afternoon.

An SA Police spokeswoman confirmed the venue had been fined for failing to comply with the Emergency Management Act.

Plain Jane released a statement on Monday: “We are reviewing last night’s incident as there may have been a breach,” a spokesperson said.

“The happiness and safety of our patrons and the greater community is our number one priority.”

Dozens of people were filmed dancing without masks on at the Leigh St venue on Sunday evening. Picture: Plain Jane

It hit back at the strict hospitality rules current in South Australia.

“Rules on masks, no stand-up consumption and no dancing have continued to cripple the

hospitality industry and leading to high levels of abuse and harassment every week,” the spokesperson said.

“In light of this matter, we look forward to the end of these restrictions so the hospitality sector can focus on our patrons and doing what we love and do best - serving the community.”

According to the latest directions from SA Health, masks are required for shared indoor public places except for bridal parties during ceremonies.

Dancing is only permitted in dance studios or for wedding couples.

“It (dancing) is not permitted in licenced premises or at any other function.”

There were 1735 new cases reported in South Australia on Thursday — a slight decline from the 1958 reported Wednesday but significantly higher than most daily numbers reported this month.

SA Health also confirmed three men with the virus — one in his sixties and two in their eighties — have died.

There are 142 people in hospital and 13 in ICU, which is a major drop from the 192 hospitalised cases reported on Wednesday.

Originally published as Leigh St venue Plain Jane hit with $5k fine after filming Covid breach and posting it to social media