ADF troops deployed to Adelaide

Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops will be brought in to help South Australia to contain and manage its COVID outbreak.

SA Premier Steven Marshall confirmed today that he had accepted an offer of ADF assistance from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“We will throw absolutely everything at this to get on top of this cluster,” Mr Marshall said.

The Premier today instructed South Australians to work from home if possible, while ordering gyms to close and capping numbers at hospitality venues to 100. Funeral mourners will also be limited to 50, Mr Marshall said.

Aged care facilities in South Australia will be enforcing visitor restrictions in the wake of the outbreak – with visitors to be limited to two per client, per day.

“The next 24 hours will be critical but not going to wait for the situation to deteriorate,” he says.

All inbound international flights and restrictions will be also reintroduced from tomorrow.

The following restrictions will come into effect for two weeks from midnight on Monday in South Australia: 

• Aged care facility visitors will be restricted to a maximum of two per day;
• Gyms, recreation centres, trampoline, play cafes will be shut;
• Community sport fixtures temporarily cancelled;
• Funeral capped at 50 people and churches at 100 people or one person per 4 sqm;
• All guests at weddings will be need to be registered;
• Private gatherings of licensed venues capped at 50 with one person per 4 sqm;
• Hospitality, pubs, clubs and restaurants capped at 100 per venue with one per four square metres and no stand-up consumption even outdoors;
• Maximum booking for over 10 people in our hospitality set pubs, clubs and restaurants;
• Private residence are capped at 10 persons per residence;
• Masks will be mandatory for personal care services like nail salons and hair dressers;
• Entertainment venues, theatres and cinemas will be restricted to one person per 4 sqm.

“I want to assure all South Australians that we are working around the clock to stay ahead of this cluster,” the Premier said.

“No effort will be spared to slow and stop the spread of the powerful cluster.”

Mr Marshall says the COVID-19 outbreak remains at 17 cases. 

SA Health is urging anyone who has visited any of the locations listed on its website to monitor for symptoms and to get tested if any symptoms appear.