COVID-19 pandemic in South Australia

On 11 March, the SA state government announced its A$350 million economic stimulus measures.[1]

On 15 March, a public health emergency was declared in South Australia.[2]

On 22 March, a "major emergency" was declared, giving the police power to enforce self-isolation rules.[3]

On 24 March, state borders were closed. People arriving in the state were required to sign a declaration that they would self-isolate for 14 days and provide an address to the police, with penalties for failure to comply.[3][4]

On 27 March, a direction was made under the Emergency Management Act 2004[5] to prohibit gatherings of more than 10 people, and a limit of 1 person per four square metres.[6]

On 8 November the SA government announced that in the state budget it would double it's coronavirus economic stimulus package to AU$ 4 billion.[7]

On 16 November, "a number of significant restrictions" were reintroduced after an outbreak of coronavirus in the northern suburbs of Adelaide.[8]

On 17 November, a six-day lockdown from midnight that day was announced. Afterwards there was to be another eight days of "significant restrictions" according to Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.[9] On 21 November, Premier Steven Marshall announced that the state's "circuit breaker" restrictions would be ending three days earlier on 21 November after authorities discovered that one of the positive cases at the Woodville Pizza Bar coronavirus hotspot had misled contact tracers by concealing the fact that he worked at the shop. As part of the easing of "circuit breaker restrictions", groups of 50 people were allowed to attend private functions and funerals, ten people to attend private functions, and 100 people allowed to attend restaurants and pubs.[10][11]

On 12 February 2021, the World Solar Challenge (SWC) for that year was cancelled by the SA Government.[12]

On 5 March 2021, the first Australian received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. A doctor in regional South Australia, she was dosed at Murray Bridge Hospital.[13]

On 30 April, South Australia's first COVID-19 mass vaccination hub opened at Adelaide Showground.[14]

In mid-June, sniffer dogs were deployed on a trial basis at Adelaide Airport to detect people with COVID-19 infections.[15]

Due to a growing cluster in Bondi, Sydney, on 23 June South Australia "immediately" reinstated a hard border with NSW. No one who had been in NSW in the past 14 days was allowed entry to SA. A border buffer of 100km was in place. Exemption were available for residents returning to SA, essential travellers, and special cases.[16][17]

On 28 June, from midnight, SA pre-emptively re-introduced a number of restrictions for at least 7 days:[18]

• masks mandatory in high-risk settings
  • aged care homes,
  • hospitals and other "personal care settings"
  • indoor entertainment venues
• not required, but highly recommended on public transport
• In licensed premises:[18]
  • no "communal consumption"
  • no buffets
  • restrictions on sheisha venues
• Some restriction on singing.[18]

On 11 July, a 72-year-old woman with thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) died in Royal Adelaide Hospital. She was vaccinated with AstraZeneca on 24 June, then admitted on 5 July.[19]

On 19 July, from midnight "level 4" restrictions were introduced after a traveller from overseas (via quarantine and hospital in Sydney) and two close contacts all tested positive. The restrictions were due to be reviewed on 23 July.[20] Restrictions included:

• indoor dining banned, only outdoor dining allowed
• non-essential retail closed
• gyms and indoor fitness facilities closed
• contact sport cancelled
• personal care services closed
• Density requirements at indoor venues:
  • one person per four square metres
  • private gatherings capped at 10
• Masks required for:[20]
  • high-risk settings
  • public transport
  • shared indoor spaces
• Events requiring COVID management plans were cancelled.[20]

On 20 July, from 6pm, South Australia went into lockdown for 7 days. This was after a 5 case cluster of the Delta variant emerged linked to Modbury Hospital. By this date, approximately 3,000 people were in quarantine at home.[21] The only reasons to leave home were:[21]

• essential work
• care for someone
• purchase essential goods-food,
• exercise
  • only with people from the same household
  • within 2.5 kilometres of home
  • 90 minutes per day maximum
• healthcare (including vaccination and COVID testing)
  • elective surgery on hold
• Schools to close from 21 July
  • 24-hour transition period for teachers to arrange at-home learning
• construction work to be halted.[21]

The lockdown led to panic buying, and the cancellations of AVCon, the Royal Adelaide Show, the Adelaide Beer and Barbeque Festival, Winter Reds wine festival and the Illuminate Adelaide arts festival.[22] The reopening of the Gawler railway line, originally set for November 2021, was also delayed to early 2022.[23]

The lockdown ended on the 27th of July

On 23 November, after the state hit 80% vaccination coverage for 16 and older, it opened its borders to the rest of the country, including New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. This signalled a change from an elimination strategy to a suppression strategy in controlling the virus.

On 1 December, the state recorded its first two cases of community transmission since the borders opened, two men aged in their 50s. The next day on 2 December, it recorded another 18 new cases, 16 linked to a high school reunion in Norwood, Adelaide. The cases included former premier Jay Weatherill.

On December 10th, the Omicron variant was detected in two interstate travellers that came to South Australia. As a result, there were changes to the rules; travellers coming to SA from New South Wales and Victoria were now required to be tested on day 6 as well as on arrival. Several high-risk exposure sites were listed, where anyone who entered had to quarantine for 14 days. [24] These restrictions were eased on December 14th and 15th respectively. [25]