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South Australia has today unveiled its roadmap out of COVID-19 restrictions today, announcing its state border will reopen to all inoculated domestic travellers from 23 November, at which point health authorities expect 80 per cent of the local eligible population will be fully vaccinated.
In addition, remaining restrictions in the state such as mandatory mask-wearing and the prohibition of dancing will be eased once the population reaches the 90 per cent fully vaccinated mark - a milestone expected to be hit before Christmas although no date has yet been set for when that might be.
Under the roadmap, from 23 November anyone travelling interstate into South Australia will be permitted to do so as long as they have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. This includes travellers from states like Western Australia and the Northern Territory where travel is currently unrestricted into SA.
At that time, the only local restriction that will be eased is the 20 person capacity limit on home gatherings. That will rise to 30 people per gathering.
All other restrictions will remain in place, but international arrivals into SA that have been fully vaccinated will only have to complete seven days of hotel quarantine rather than 14.
Once the state hits the 90 per cent fully vaccinated target SA’s international border will reopen to all fully vaccinated overseas arrivals, but unvaccinated travellers will still have to complete two weeks of quarantine in a state-run facility.
Most remaining COVID restrictions will ease at this time too, but “high-risk” activities like dancing at nightclubs and standing consumption of alcohol indoors will be reserved for vaccinated people only.
Masks will no longer be mandatory except in aged care settings and hospitals, and COVID management plans will still be required for large events.
“South Australians have worked extraordinarily hard over the last 19 months - they’ve stood shoulder to shoulder together in a time which can really only be described as one of the most turbulent in recent history,” SA Premier Steven Marshall said.
“I think South Australia is now enjoying a very enviable status and I’m very grateful to the people of South Australia for the hard work they have put in.
“I’m asking them to continue to work hard so make sure that we can get to as normal Christmas as possible.”
Updated at 3.19pm AEDT on 26 October 2021.
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