South Australia -Mesrena Elyoum
South Australia has further loosened some of its coronavirus restrictions, two weeks after a Delta virus outbreak scare and amid warnings that the situation in Queensland was “deteriorating” rapidly.
Premier Steven Marshall said the door for South Australians currently in south-east Queensland remains open, but they must home quarantine for 14 days.
He encouraged South Australians who can return now to do so.
This would be our preference,” he said.
“We don’t know what this week is going to hold in Queensland.
“I think we need to all recognise that there could be a changing situation (and) people need to be flexible.”
South Australians in Queensland, but not inside the 11 locked down LGAs, can return home to SA without quarantining, but they must undergo testing on day one, day five, and day 13.
Many South Australians in New South Wales remain locked out of the state.
“The situation in New South Wales is worrying and it’s now persistent,” Mr Marshall said, adding “the situation in Queensland is worrying, and it’s a deteriorating situation.”
Despite the looser COVID-19 settings, masks must continue to be worn in high risk settings and visitors to private homes remain capped at 10.
The latest changes, which come into place at midnight on Wednesday night, allow one person per two square metres.
Gyms can operate with one people per four square metres, and sports competitions are back on with some restrictions on spectators.
Singing and dancing restrictions remain in place, but students can again go on school excursions and attend assemblies.
No decision had been reached on whether the Royal Adelaide Show, scheduled to run from September 4-12, will go ahead as planned.
SA Health was working with the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society and AFL staff to work out safety plans for mass events.
South Australia reported one new case of COVID-19 today, a child returning from overseas already in quarantine.
More than 10,000 tests were carried out yesterday, and there are currently two people in hospital with coronavirus at Royal Adelaide.