Premier Steven Marshall, Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier and Police Commissioner Grant Stevens addressed the South Australian public today with the latest update on the state’s COVID-19 response.
From December 28, Marshall has announced there will be further relaxation of restrictions, which will see hospitality venues able to see people standing up and drinking, as well as dancing, under certain conditions.
December 28 is the date Marshall and SA Health predict that South Australia will reach the crucial 90 per cent double vaccinated rate for the population 12 and over.
From December 28, fully vaccinated pubs in South Australia will be able to permit stand up drinking and dancing – but only if the environment is fully vaccinated.
“I know this will be a huge relief for people who have been looking forward to this,” said Marshall.
Further, venues that operate as sitting down environments will see their capacity increase to 100 per cent for fully vaccinated environments. Capacity requirements for vaccinated venues will increase to 75 per cent.
As for fully-vaccinated nightclubs, December 28 will also mean they are able to operate again, with capacity increasing to 50 per cent.
The cap on home gatherings will also dissolve come December 28, with outdoor COVID management plans increasing from 1000 patrons to 3000.
The current restrictions will remain in place for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated venues. The mask mandate will still remain for all indoor public places.
Earlier this week, the SA Government announced that quarantine for international arrivals will reduce to seven days instead of 14. On December 28, that period will further decrease to just 72 hours of quarantine. Unvaccinated arrivals will still be required to quarantine in a medi-hotel for 14 days.
Overnight, 64 cases of COVID were confirmed, a result Marshall said the state is expected to see as the state re-opens. Today’s case numbers are the highest the state has seen since the start of the pandemic.
“We’re putting speed bumps in the way because of Omicron,” said Marshall.
“We still are very concerned about Omicron, what we do know is it’s highly transmissible and it looks like there’s a lower level of severity but we are only a few weeks into this environment.
“We can only do this because of the great work of people in South Australia.
“I think this will be a great relief to the people of our state.”
Marshall said the government and SA Health is further considering shortening the booster shots shorter than 5 months for a further level of protection.
“Our key metric is looking at the hospitalisation to date — we’ve had just three admissions in three-and-a-half weeks in South Australia,” said Marshall.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said they are here to provide advice, support and guidance to hospitality venues. Further, he stated it was a choice for businesses to become a fully-vaccinated venue. They will make provisions for staff who are yet to be vaccinated as well.
“Businesses are making choices so they can remain viable,” said Stevens.
Stevens further said it was a consensus between the team, SA Health and the Government at the Transmission Committee to ease restrictions this December 28. Stevens role as State Coordinator will remain in place after December 28.
“There are no lockdowns and lockouts at this period of time,” said Stevens.
Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said they would have further details later on regarding today’s 64 cases. Out of the 64, 49 have been acquired locally, with 3 from overseas and a further 12 under investigation.
“We’re here to save lives to be perfectly blunt, so what we are focusing on is high-risk locations,” said Spurrier. She said this includes aged care facilities, abattoirs and the unvaccinated.
As the case continues to see cases surge, Spurrier said SA Health will turn towards utilising more automation – cases will now be sent an SMS instead of receiving a phone call. Long interviews will also be replaced with an online survey.
Omicron does have an immune escape, so the double vaccination doses will likely not be as effective against this variant as it was against Delta and previous strains. Spurrier said that receiving your third shot when it is your turn is crucial.
“Don’t be hesitant to get that vaccination,” said Spurrier. “I’ve had three shots, and I’m standing here fighting fit.”
Spurrier said that at no point has the data shown that vaccinations can protect the population alone, which is why certain requirements and restrictions – such as testing, isolation, masks and high personal hygiene – remain. Nevertheless, the CHO said she supported the easing of restrictions, remarking she is “stoked” as she also loves dancing.
“On the other hand, we can’t put our head in the sand. We have to look around at what’s happening internationally and interstate,” continued Spurrier.
At the time of writing, South Australia’s vaccination rates are inching closer to the crucial 90 per cent doubled vaccinated milestone. A total of 91.4 per cent of individuals 12 and over have received their first dose of a TGA-approved vaccination, with 85.6 per cent of the population 12+ double vaccinated.
As the state’s COVID-19 cases continue to climb, several exposure sites have been announced this week. Read those below:
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, please seek testing as soon as possible.
For more information on health advice and requirements for households, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDcontacttracing.
Find your nearest testing site at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVIDtesting
