South Australia has recorded one COVID-linked death and another 2,374 new cases, as a relaxation of social restrictions comes into effect across the state.
Key points:
- A man in his 40s who tested positive for COVID-19 has died
- The number of people in hospital has increased, but the Premier said the rate remained “extraordinarily low”
- Hospitality venues have been allowed to return to full capacity
Capacity limits were last night scrapped in homes and businesses, allowing singing and dancing to resume at clubs, and enabling venues — including Fringe shows — to admit full crowds.
Adelaide chef Nicolle Hahn said she had already noticed a surge in bookings at her Hindmarsh cafe.
“Everyone is quite relieved,” she said.
“All the staff are ecstatic and we can now fit more patrons in … [and] people are happy that we can rub shoulders together again.
The changed restrictions are welcome news for nightclubs, with revellers now allowed to sing and dance.
But some, including Hindley Street club owner John Meek, said many venues had struggled to pay their bills, and that restrictions should have been lifted sooner.
“For our business, it’s about viability. We’ve gone through 700-plus days of restrictions and lost substantial amounts of money,” he said.
“We’re behind in rent, we’re behind in payments.”
South Australia’s latest cases take the total active number to 15,580.
“Sadly, SA Health can confirm a man in his 40s who tested positive for COVID-19, has passed away,” SA Health said.
The state has 98 people in hospital, including nine patients in intensive care and one on a ventilator.
The 98 is an extra 10 since yesterday and comes amid a rise in case numbers over recent days.
But Premier Steven Marshall was upbeat about the situation, and made the relaxed restrictions the focus of his campaigning, seven days out from next Saturday’s election.
“The hospitalisation rate is really the key statistic,” he said.
“I’m very happy that the hospitalisation rate in South Australia is remaining extraordinarily low — in fact, yesterday it was the lowest on mainland Australia and that has given us great confidence to lift those restrictions.”
AMA urges caution on close contacts
Mr Marshall said the next repeal would likely target mask-wearing requirements and rules for close contacts.
Asked whether he thought the decision to relax restrictions a week out from the election was politically motivated, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said he would “leave that to South Australians” to determine.
Mr Marshall said it had been the government’s long-standing intention to gradually ease restrictions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said COVID isolation rules for close contacts were becoming redundant.
But Australian Medical Association vice-president and Adelaide GP Chris Moy cautioned against any premature repeals, amid the new Omicron sub-variant BA.2 and ahead of the winter flu season.
“The authorities are somewhat betwixt and between, because they’re caught between what appears to be things going well but also this new Omicron variant and winter coming along,” Dr Moy said.
“While obviously the politicians want to go a particular way, we should still be listening to the science and the health advice.
“We cannot end up in a situation where we overwhelm the health system again.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
Loading form…
Posted , updated