An update has been made to the public activity restrictions in South Australia.
The Emergency Management (Public Activities No 14) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 has been revoked and replaced by the Emergency Management (Public Activities No 15) (COVID-19) Direction 2020. This new Direction comes into effect as of 5.50pm Friday 4 December 2020.
This Direction has been amended to clarify the definition and requirements for private functions, weddings and funerals, requirements for a person to record their details when they participate in a Defined Public Activity and the requirement to wear a mask. The contents of the previous Direction are largely still in place.
The following changes have been made to the Public Activities Direction in South Australia:
Hospitality Premises
Hospitality premises are defined as places/businesses that are primarily used for the preparation of retail sale of food /drink for immediate consumption on or off the premises (excluding food courts) and/or licensed premises. The 1 person per 2 square metres applies to all hospitality premises regardless of whether indoors or outdoors. Food and beverages must be consumed while seated indoors but can be consumed while standing and seated while outdoors.
Private Functions, Weddings and Funerals
The following applies to invitation only events including a private function at relevant licensed premises only and a wedding/funeral at any location. The function must be in a designated area which has no public access and where possible separate bathroom facilities from the rest of the venue. If there are no separate bathroom facilities for the function, the venue must have a higher frequency of cleaning. The maximum number of people permitted to attend is 150 people and the density provision of 1 person per 2 square metres applies. Food and beverages must have no shared utensils but can be consumed while standing. Dancing is also permitted.
*IMPORTANT- The 150 people (including children and infants) attending the event must be the same 150 people for the entire duration of event.
Contact Tracing/ COVIDSAfe CheckIn
A person attending a place to participate in a defined public activity must endeavour in all circumstances to ensure that their relevant contact details are captured by COVIDSAfe CheckIn or Scan Tek in the first instance. If the technology does not work or the person is unable to upload their details they must provide their details to the venue operator and these details must be retained.
For more information visit: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/business-and-work/covid-safe-check-in
Health Care, Residential Care, Disability Support or Aged Care Services
Masks must be worn in defined health care, residential care, and disability support or aged are services. A full list of these services can be found in Schedule 2 of the Direction: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations/public-activities
Masks that cover a person’s nose and mouth are required to be worn in Health care, residential care, disability support or aged care services by all people including: care providers, patients, clients, residents, admin and other staff, employees, visitors, students, contractors and any other person when they are in the presence of other people.
Exceptions to this include:
- If in the professional opinion of a service provider, carer or service organisation providing the service the wearing of a mask will hinder the provision of relevant care or impact a client safety;
- If a person has a relevant medical condition including problems with their breathing, a serious condition of the face, a disability or mental health condition;
- Where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication such as to enable communication by or with any person who is deaf or hard hearing;
- Hospital inpatients are generally not expected to wear a mask except when they are being transported through a public space; and
- A person receiving individual care in their own home is not expected to wear a mask.
The following restrictions have largely been carried over from the previous Direction and still apply:
Density Requirements
The following density requirements apply:
- All hospitality regardless of whether Indoor or Outdoor- 1 person per 2 square metres
All other Activities:
- Indoor Place (includes an enclosed area)- 1 person per 4 square metres
- Outdoor Place- 1 person per 2 square metres
People must use their best endeavours to implement physical distancing and remain 1.5m from people they do not know.
Note- The occupier/owner of a place must calculate the density requirements based on the space available for members of the public to use for the defined activity (not including bathrooms etc). This does not include staff areas and staff who are working are not calculated in the capacity number.
Gathering Provisions
The following gathering provisions apply:
- Private function at a licensed premises- 150 people maximum 1 person per 2 sqm
- Weddings and Funerals regardless of the venue-150 people maximum 1 person per 2 sqm.
- Private residence- 10 people per house (unless more than 10 people permanently reside at the residence)
- Private place- 150 people maximum
- Holiday accommodation- The maximum number of people permitted to sleep at the place as set by the accommodation provider
- Caravan park or camping ground- 6 people maximum per site and no more than 6 visitors. Children under the age of 16 are not included.
- Swimming pool- no more than 50 people in a public swimming pool at any one time.
- Cinema, theatres and other fixed seating- 50% of their standard capacity in patrons and ‘checkerboard’ seating arrangement.
Note- Children and infants of any age are counted in the above gathering and density provisions, other than at caravan parks where children under the age of 16 are not included.
It is acknowledged that many restrictions still apply, but they are critical in dealing with the spread of COVID-19.
All existing directions, frequently asked questions and other information can be found here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations.
For further information please call the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787 between the hours of 9am to 5pm 7 days per week or go to the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
