Current Advice for South Australia

Previously, from 5 September 2022, the isolation period after testing positive for COVID will be reduced from seven to five days.

Advice for businesses:
If a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 has been on the premises, businesses and organisations should:

• notify their staff and advise staff whether they meet the South Australian definition of a close contact.
• inform customers and clients who were on the premise at the same as the positive case.

Premises will not be required to close unless:

• advised by SA Health
• the business decides there is insufficient staff available to keep the business open.

All businesses and organisations are strongly encouraged to have business continuity plans in place to ensure the safety of their staff, customers and clients.

Level 1 restrictions are in place:

• 1/4 density (indoor fitness facilities). If fitness classes being held outdoors (1/2 density)
• Masks for indoor fitness facilities (except while exercising)
• Masks for shared indoor public places (except bridal parties during ceremonies)

You are no longer required to do the COVID-Safe Check-in at defined public activity but you are required to Check in at:

• Public and Private hospitals,
• Disability care facilities, and
• Residential Aged Care Facilities.

The isolation period for positive COVID cases has been reduced from 10 to seven.

Previously, from Monday 8 November, Healthcare setting workers vaccination:

Link to Directions: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations/healthcare-setting-workers-vaccination

FAQ for additional clarification: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/522849/20211108-FAQs-Mandatory-COVID-19-vaccination-Final.pdf

Vaccination requirements and compliance for healthcare workers

(1)     A person must not engage in work or perform duties in a Phase 1 healthcare setting from 1 November 2021 or a Phase 2 healthcare setting from 8 November 2021 unless—

(a)     the person has received at least one dose of a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved COVID-19 vaccine; and

(b)     the person has received, or has evidence of a booking to receive, a second dose of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine within the interval after the first dose recommended by the ATAGI for that COVID-19 vaccine..

Notes—

• This direction applies to all persons engaging in work or duties at a healthcare setting including clinicians, ambulance workers, allied health workers, cleaners, administrative and executive staff and students undertaking placement, regardless of whether they work in a patient or a non-patient area.
• This direction applies to all persons who attend a healthcare setting in the course of their work or duties, including if their attendance is incidental such as delivery drivers or suppliers.
• The ATAGI clinical guidance on COVID-19 vaccine is available at https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-vaccination-atagi-clinical-guidance-on-covid-19-vaccine-in-australia-in-2021.

(2)     A person subject to the requirement in subclause (1) must provide the operator of the healthcare setting with proof of their vaccination status upon request.

Phase 1 healthcare setting means—

• a public hospital; or
• a private hospital; or
• an ambulance service (including an ambulance service for transporting patients);

Phase 2 healthcare setting means—

• primary community healthcare facilities;
• pharmacies;
• specialist outpatient facilities;
• private pathology centres;
• private radiology centres (including breast screening centre);
• defence health settings (including Garrison health centres, deployed and exercise health support and clinical health training);
• facilities for the collection, manufacture and distribution of blood and biological products;
• Aboriginal community controlled health services;
• any location where the Department for Health and Wellbeing, the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health and Wellbeing SA carries out any business or undertaking;

 

South Australia is currently under Level 1 restrictions with additional restrictions:

• 1 person per 4 square metres (indoor fitness facilities)
• Masks for indoor fitness facilities (except while exercising)

 

Previously, from 12.01am Wednesday 28 July, lockdown restrictions will lift but some restrictions will remain in place.

Gyms can open with a density limit of one person per eight square metres.

 

From 6pm Tuesday 20 July, South Australia will go into lockdown for 7 days.

Fitness or recreation activities:

• Indoor facilities closed.

The only reasons to leave home will be

• to care for someone,
• for essential work,
• to purchase essential goods such as food,
• exercise with people from the same household and
• healthcare — including COVID testing and vaccination.

Support for businesses is expected to be announced tomorrow.

 

Previously, requirements checked 06 July 2021

• You must have a COVID-Safe Plan.
• Density requirement: 3 people per 4 square metres
• Must take reasonable steps to maintain 1.5m physical distancing
• Contact tracing required – COVID-SAfe Check in, Scan Tek or any other electronic platform which is approved by the state coordinator.

 

As of 12:01 am on Sunday 22 November (Midnight Saturday) South Australia will revert to similar restrictions that were in place on Monday 16 November 2020.

This includes:

• Gyms are permitted to reopen.
• 1 person per 4 square metres will apply

 

Previously, from 21 August 2020, Gyms and fitness centres/studios, Pilates, yoga, spin, barre, dance and similar studios, health clubs, etc.  must have a COVID Marshal.

Nominated COVID Marshal

If fewer than 200 people are reasonably expected to participate in the business or operation then you must have a nominated COVID Marshal. This means that you can nominate one of your regular staff members to also perform the role of COVID Marshal in addition to conducting their usual duties.

More information about COVID Marshalls (required training, duties, identification, etc.): https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/recovery/covid-marshals

Link to Prescribed COVID Marshal Training

 

From 29 June

Step 3 will be a simplified principle-based approach, except for some high-risk activities.

While physical distancing of 1.5 m is still encouraged, social distancing requirements within venues will be reduced to one person per two square metres.

All businesses, activities and gatherings allowed under Step 3 are listed in the Public activities direction no 3.

Businesses and defined public activities with an existing COVIDSafe Plan do not need to complete a new plan and will be emailed an updated version of their existing plan before 29 June.

Businesses and defined public activities that do not have a COVIDSafe Plan must complete a plan before they can commence – create a COVID-Safe Plan.

 

From 19 June dance and fitness classes in larger rooms can have up to 20 people if they meet a density requirement of 1 person per 7 square metres.

For smaller rooms, classes of up to 10 can be accommodated if they meet the density requirement of 1 person per 4 square metres.

This does not include the people employed or engaged to work to run the activity. Physical distancing and good hygiene practices should be followed.

All participants are required to provide their name and phone number or email address. The person conducting the activity must retain a record of those contact details and produce them at the request of an authorised officer.

COVID-Safe Plan, Step 2 Plus

Not all businesses will need to complete a revised COVID-Safe Plan for Step 2 Plus.

Room allowances will increase as part of Step 2 Plus but the limit of one person per 4 square meters will remain. Businesses with smaller areas may not be able to increase their maximum patronage. However, some businesses with large areas will be able to accommodate more patrons.

When creating their original COVID-Safe Plan, businesses were required to list all rooms or spaces that would be open to patrons, as well as the area of those rooms. If these details will not change, no new plan will be needed.

Businesses that don’t need a new plan

You will NOT have to complete a revised plan for Step 2 Plus, if you:

• have already completed a Step 2 COVID-safe plan for your business
• are not increasing the amount of space or number of rooms open to patrons for Step 2 Plus.

An updated plan will be sent to the email address on file with a revised total of patrons allowed based on the room sizes originally supplied. You will have to print and make this updated plan available from 19 June.

Businesses that do need a new plan

You WILL need to complete a revised COVID-Safe Plan for Step 2 Plus if you:

• plan to offer more rooms or spaces to patrons
• plan to extend or alter the floorspace of any existing rooms or spaces.

Create a Step 2 Plus COVID-Safe Plan

Stage 2 was moved forward to June 1 (subject to public health assessment at the time).

The SA government has advised us that small group Pilates is permitted under stage 2, with certain preventive and precautionary restrictions and measures still applying. The rules include a maximum of 20 clients per room & 80 clients per venue. Instructors are in addition to the client numbers.

Step 1 (11 May 2020)  The South Australian government has advised us that “current Directions in South Australia require indoor physical training facilities including Pilates to remain closed.”

Prohibited are:

Facilities used primarily for indoor physical recreation. Examples… include… Pilates studios.

The website provides:

“Can I go to the gym or fitness centre (including barre, yoga, and spin facilities)?

No, these facilities are now closed.”

Stage 1 commenced on May 11 and allows outdoors sports with a maximum of ten participants with minimal shared equipment and good hygiene.