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"The deteriorating situation around the country is a major wake up call for South Australia," SA Premier Steven Marshall said.
South Australia will introduce a hard border to Victoria and ditch plans to reopen to southeast Queensland as new COVID-19 restrictions come into effect in the state from midnight tonight.
The new restrictions, which include reduced capacities in venues, the banning of dancing and more to come as the virus situation around the country has deteriorated further today.
The Premier put it simply: "We don't want lockdowns in South Australia."
As such, from midnight tonight, a hard border to Victoria will be put in place, meaning only returning South Aussies will be permitted to enter the state.
Returning residents however must complete two weeks of hotel quarantine on arrival if they have been in Greater Melbourne, Geelong or Bacchus Marsh. The 70km border bubble will be in place.
In addition, because Queensland today recorded three new local COVID-19 cases, plans to ease the hard border with the state's southeast have been thrown out for the time being.
As such, SA will maintain its hard border with Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gold Coast, Logan, Redland, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somerset.
New local restrictions will come into effect for SA including:
- 50 per cent density arrangements at venues
- Masks must be worn indoors for venues that have more than 50 per cent capacity in place (like theatres)
- Masks must also be worn in correctional facilities, aged care homes, and when receiving personal care services
- Shisha will be banned
- Dancing and singing will be banned
- Private home gatherings restricted to 150 attendees
"We do all of these things to make sure we do not have a lockdown in South Australia," Marshall said.
"We need to take action, both in terms of our own border, but also internally in South Australia.
"We still have the lowest level restrictions in the country, that means if it comes to South Australia it can move very quickly. That's why we take this action."
Updated 4.01pm AEST on 15 July 2021.
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