South Australia has emerged from its COVID-19 lockdown with the state’s peak business group saying it’s time for traders to “rebuild once again”.
The state’s week-long shutdown ended at one minute past midnight on Wednesday amid confidence the latest cluster of coronavirus infections has been contained.
Business SA chief executive Martin Haese says 2500 emergency support payments have already gone out to local companies that are unlikely to salvage any of the money lost from the forced closure over the past seven days.
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But he said it was clear the short, sharp lockdown had saved South Australia from “a world of pain like we are seeing in New South Wales”.
SA reported no new virus infections on Tuesday, with Premier Steven Marshall saying that was a “huge relief” and vindication of the state’s “go hard and go early” approach to combating virus clusters.
“We don’t put these restrictions in place lightly, but if we didn’t we would be in a very different situation,” he said.
SA has kept a range of heightened restrictions including a general density requirement of one person to every four square metres.
Masks must be worn in high-risk settings, such as aged care centres and personal care services, in medical services, on public transport and in all indoor public places, including supermarkets.
All food and drink consumption must be seated and dancing and singing remain banned.
Family gatherings are limited to 10 people, although weddings and funerals can have up to 50.
Schools will reopen on Wednesday and secondary students will also be required to wear masks.
Sports training can resume, but competitions will be delayed until August 7.
The new restrictions will remain in place for at least a week.
‘10 out of 10’
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said South Australians deserved a “10 out of 10” score for their response to the lockdown.
“It’s something the community should be incredibly proud of. We got through this difficult time,” he said.
“It happens because everybody did their part in minimising the potential for this virus to spread.”
Mr Stevens said he was absolutely certain SA did the right thing in moving to a rapid shutdown last week.
“The decision was sound and based on strong evidence and advice,” he said.
"‘The decision was sound and based on strong evidence and advice.’"
With no new cases, SA’s Modbury cluster of coronavirus cases stands at 19 confirmed infections, with 11 of those linked to the Tenafeate Creek winery near One Tree Hill.
It began with an 81-year-old man who recently arrived in Australia from Argentina and was quarantined in Sydney before travelling to Adelaide, where he tested positive.