As South Australians adjust to life in lockdown, there is still plenty of confusion around the rules — especially when it comes to wearing masks and when you are allowed to leave home.
While lockdown came into effect on Tuesday at 6:00pm, a number of directions were amended on Wednesday evening, including changes for couples who don’t live in the same house.
Premier Steven Marshall said the change was made as authorities were concerned about people’s mental health and wellbeing over the lockdown period.
“We are really concerned about people who are isolated, increasing levels of anxiety, and we don’t want to exacerbate the health situation we have with coronavirus with health concerns around mental health,” Mr Marshall said.
So can you go see your partner, or a friend? When are you allowed to leave home, and should you?
Here’s a look at SA’s lockdown, Wednesday night’s amendments, and what they mean for you.
Can I go visit my partner?
Initially, the answer to this was no. But as of last night, an amendment was made to allow couples who don’t live together to be able to visit each other.
The amendment is open to anyone who lives alone and is over the age of 16.
It includes visiting a friend, relative or support person — not just an intimate partner, but there are restrictions on this.
You had to have been in a relationship with the person before lockdown began on Tuesday evening.
“The intent of this amendment is if you are in an existing relationship and you comply with the conditions that are put in this, then you are allowed to visit those people you are normally in a relationship with,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.
He emphasised it was not about “opening it up for singles on Tinder”.
Commissioner Stevens also reiterated that people are only allowed to nominate one person that they can go and visit.
“But once again, I’m stressing, this is not a free-for-all wherever and [you can’t] just use this as an excuse to go and visit friends,” he said.
“If we find out about that, we will take action.”
People in share houses are not allowed to go visiting friends or partners.
So when can I leave the house?
When lockdown was announced on Tuesday, Premier Steven Marshall said there were some exceptions as to why someone could leave their house, and those remain unchanged.
You can leave your house to care for someone else, to get medical attention (including a COVID test or vaccination), for exercise, to buy essentials such as food and to escape harm or risk, including domestic violence.
As SA’s cluster continues to grow, Mr Marshall urged the community to stay at home unless it was absolutely necessary to leave.
“This is our best defence in terms of slowing and ultimately stopping the spread of this cluster, because we don’t have widespread movement,” Mr Marshall said.
“Even though there are some exemptions, as to why people can leave home, we’re not asking people to try and optimise the way they can have freedom from the lockdown situation.
“We are asking people to understand what we’re trying to achieve in our state at the moment, that is to significantly reduce mobility in our state.
“We might be allowed to go to the shops every day, but if we don’t need to go to the shops, we’re asking people to stay at home.”
Can I move house during lockdown?
The views on this also seem to have changed, but to break it down: if it’s unavoidable and you can’t push a move back, then yes you can move house.
“If you are in a situation where you have ended a lease, you’ve quit your lease, your landlord requires you to move, you’ve purchased a property and you’re having settlement and you must move, then that is permissible under the direction,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“It simply has to happen so that’s not an issue, but we require people to do it as safely as possible.
“If there’s an opportunity to defer any sort of move, then we ask people to consider that as well over the course of this seven-day lockdown.”
Who needs to wear a mask and when?
In short, just about everyone who leaves the house to go to a public area.
There are a few exceptions and these are children under the age of 12 and people with relevant medical conditions.
Masks can also be removed if the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication, removal is required for ID purposes, when a person is eating or drinking, or are carrying out functions as an authorised worker.
Masks must cover the mouth and nose and be worn when using passenger transport services, in public places, at health care services and in high-risk settings.
And there are consequences if you don’t comply. A woman was arrested in the Adelaide Hills after she refused to wear a mask at a local supermarket.
“My strong message is if you’re not wearing a mask, then you are breaching the direction. If you are requested to do so by a person working in a retail outlet, please abide by their request,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“Don’t get into an argument with them. They’re doing the right thing. And it’s up to you to do the right thing as well.”
What about while exercising?
No. And this is one of the updates that came into effect on Wednesday evening — but there are caveats.
People are no longer required to wear a mask while exercising.
As already mentioned above, one of the reasons South Australians are permitted to leave the house during lockdown is for exercise.
But people must stay within 2.5 kilometres of their home, are only allowed to exercise with members of their household, and for no more than 90 minutes a day.
If it is not possible to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres while exercising, then you must wear a mask.
Are there any other exceptions for mask-wearing?
Yes. While students have been moved to online learning from today, schools are allowed to remain open to care for students of essential workers.
Students and teachers at both primary and secondary schools are not required to wear a mask.
People participating in court or tribunal proceedings must also remove their masks as directed.
You are not required to wear a mask when working at an office building, unless the person’s work involves face-to-face interaction with members of the public.
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