Australia

Crowd of 15,000 at Adelaide Oval but no exemption from quarantine for travel through Sydney Airport


People transiting through Sydney Airport to get to South Australia will no longer be exempt from 14-day COVID-19 quarantine rules that apply to the rest of NSW.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the change was made because of the high number of coronavirus cases reported each day in NSW.

“We don’t have any confidence that transiting passengers can maintain a sterile corridor as they are transiting through the Sydney Airport and also the potential to be travelling on aircraft with people from NSW who may have been from high-risk locations,” Mr Stevens said.

Only people with exemptions can currently enter South Australia from NSW, apart from those coming from Broken Hill.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens is the state coordinator during the coronavirus pandemic. (

ABC News

)

South Australians can currently return from south-east Queensland with a 14-day quarantine, but residents of that area are not allowed into the state.

Queensland announced 16 locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the south-east today, along with one in Cairns, the only regional city with direct flights to Adelaide.

Mr Stevens said the change would mostly impact people returning from regional Queensland to South Australia and travelling via Sydney Airport.

He said the changing situation in Queensland could prompt local authorities to require those returning from regional Queensland to quarantine for 14 days, or apply for formal exemptions to arrive.

“Anybody in regional Queensland will need to revisit their travel plans,” he said.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall yesterday urged locals to consider returning home from south-east Queensland if possible.

No new COVID-19 cases were reported in South Australia today.

Sport crowd rules announced

A crowd of 15,000 will be allowed to attend Saturday’s AFL Showdown between the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

This will include 12,000 club members and 3,000 people in hospitality and function areas at the stadium.

There will be staggered fan entry and exit and patrons will have to wear masks at all times and in all areas, except when eating and drinking.

Mr Stevens also announced up to 1,000 people could attend outdoor community sporting events at the weekend, at a density of 1 person per 2 square metres.

“This should provide some clarification and relief to people who wish to watch their local sporting clubs participate in competitions over the next weekend,” he said.

SA Health is expected to announce rules for indoor sport later this week.

Pubs to struggle under density restrictions

South Australian hospitality venues will be able to open their doors to 50 per cent capacity from Thursday, while gyms can have 1 person per 4 square metres.

Singing and dancing will still be banned, and food and drink will only be served to people who are seated.

Hotel Metro publican Damian Peterson said it would make operating “borderline viable”.

“We’ve already had conversations with three functions that probably aren’t going to go ahead because of the seated nature of the restrictions and we just can’t fit the number of people we need to in spaces.”

Adelaide hotel owner Damian Peterson stands at the bar.
Hotel Metro co-owner Damian Peterson says his business lost stock during last month’s lockdown.(

ABC News: Leah MacLennan

)

Premier Steven Marshall said he was hopeful restrictions would continue to be reduced in the state in the coming weeks.

“If we’re truthful about it, in South Australia we had become a little bit complacent until this most recent cluster and I think in many ways this had made people think this is something that can affect us quite significantly in South Australia,” he said.

“That lockdown was very punishing on individuals and businesses.”

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