Arrivals will have to isolate until their day one test shows negative then also get tested on day five and 12, but SA will effectively be open for free travel from everywhere interstate – and South Australians can travel to all states and territories without isolating.Following Thursday’s Transition Committee meeting Mr Stevens said the plan hinged on NSW having no new cases before the change, which technically will be from 12.01am on Sunday.He also revealed talks are underway to lift the year-long Major Emergency Declaration that would see his powerful role as State Coordinator cease.This would require a specific legislative mechanism to enforce things such as mandatory QR codes, COVID marshals and limits on people in venues based on floorspace, which were made under the declaration.
NED-1859 State of our borders
“I think we are really close to the threshold (on how far to ease restrictions)” Mr Stevens said, indicating SA has reached its “COVID-normal” future.“We will be looking at a baseline level of restrictions to see what that would look like.“We have been providing advice for the Major Emergency Declaration to be revoked. The replacement would be specific legislation on restrictions on community activities.”However, Mr Stevens said it was unlikely SA would see fewer restrictions any time soon.“I don’t know that we are going to see too many more changes in what we can free up,” he said.
He said there still needed to be a balance of enough restrictions to ensure public safety, and the declaration could be reinstated in the event of a serious outbreak.Mr Stevens noted the community seemed to have come to terms with the new COVID normal society, saying there had been a dramatic fall in inquiries and complaints about restrictions.SA on Thursday recorded its seventh-straight day of no new cases and has no active cases.Officials indicated the new normal will not require proof of a COVID vaccine to go to pubs and restaurants as has been suggested interstate.Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade noted the coming vaccine was “not flicking a switch and stepping back from the public health measures we have developed”.Deputy chief public health officer Dr Michael Cusack urged continued vigilance on things such as social distancing and being tested if ill, saying rates had dropped to around 2000 a day which is “cause for anxiety.”The requirement on arrivals from Sydney to be tested on days one, five and 12 is expected to be lifted 14 days from Sunday, and arrivals now in quarantine who have tested negative will be allowed out from Sunday.Restrictions remain on arrivals from New Zealand.SA Health said people in SA, or in Australia and heading to SA, who have been in New Zealand on or after January 14, must submit to a COVID-19 test within 24 hours and self-quarantine until they receive a negative result, and get tested again in five days and then 12 days.There is no requirement to self-quarantine after receiving the first negative result, unless symptomatic.People travelling from NZ on or after January 26 and arriving in SA having been in that country in the past 14 days must quarantine at a medi-hotel and undergo COVID-19 testing on days one, five and 12.
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