SA scraps rules on dancing, density requirements

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has announced South Australians will be able to dance and sing freely this weekend, in addition to seeing all density restrictions scrapped.

The current 50-person cap on home gathering will also be removed when restrictions ease on 12:01am, 12 March.

“It is good to be able to stand here and provide this much sought-after relief to a wide range of activities right across SA - including hospitality – and we certainly understand the pressures sectors have been under because of the restrictions,” Stevens said.

QR codes will also no longer be required for recreational transport, auctions and inspections, public transport, taxis, rideshare and education facilities.

Some people with COVID-19 will be directed to isolate for seven days instead of 10, with SA Health to make “direct contact” with positive cases to advise them of their quarantine requirements over the coming days.

The easing of restrictions comes despite SA recording 2,590 cases and four deaths in the latest 24-hour reporting period.  

There are currently 91 people with COVID-19 in hospital, including 11 in ICU and two requiring a ventilator.

There were 21,514 active cases in the state as of yesterday – the highest number reported since 29 January.

“We’ve always expected we’d see fluctuations in the daily case numbers,” Stevens said.

"The critical indicator for us is the number of people being hospitalised on a daily basis and that has reduced substantially and remains low and consistent.

"That tells us that while people may be contracting COVID-19 they are not becoming terribly sick with the virus, requiring that intensive medical support.

The state’s COVID-Ready committee will meet next week to determine whether any changes will be made for close contacts in quarantine or the mask-wearing mandate for indoor public settings.   

Updated at 10.15am AEDT on 11 March 2022.