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Several new COVID-19 restrictions will be put in place from midnight tonight in South Australia as health authorities work to get on top of an outbreak in Adelaide's northern suburbs.
Gyms and other recreation centres will be forced to close temporarily, and venues like pubs, clubs and restaurants will have capacity limits of 100 people with the one person per four square metre rule in place.
International flights into the city will also be paused for the remainder of the week to ensure there is enough space in Adelaide's medi-hotels to house those who need to be placed into local quarantine.
It comes as 17 new cases were reported in the state this morning, with no new cases being discovered by a testing blitz undertaken this afternoon, which SA Premier Steven Marshall said is a positive outcome.
"I said last week that COVID has challenged us, but it has not defeated us, and it's fair to say that we are now facing our biggest test today," Marshall said.
"Today we've acted to supercharge capabilities at some of our COVID testing sites including Victoria Park, Elizabeth, Parafield Airport and McGill which are all open until eight o'clock at night.
"Your response has given me great heart that we will rise to this challenge."
Restrictions to come into force from midnight
From midnight tonight a raft of restrictions will come into place in gyms, venues and households.
Gyms and other recreation facilities like trampoline and play cafes will be forced to close for what the Premier hopes will be a temporary period of two weeks and community sport and training will be temporarily cancelled.
Funerals will be capped at 50 people with the one person per four square metre rule in place, while church gatherings will be capped at 100 people.
No real changes will be made for weddings, but all attendees must be registered.
Private gatherings at licenced venues will be capped at 50 people with the one person per four square metre rule in place.
Pubs, clubs and restaurants will only be allowed to host up to 100 people, with a maximum booking of 10 people for groups.
Private residences will only be allowed to have 10 people gathering at a time.
Finally, all events with approved COVID management plans scheduled for the next two weeks have been cancelled immediately.
Masks will be made mandatory for service providers in settings like hairdressers, nail salons, and tattoo parlours, but not mandatory for those receiving the services.
Those visiting aged care facilities must wear a face mask, and only two visitors per day will be allowed.
All schools will remain open.
The Premier also recommends those in Adelaide work from home where possible and wear a face mask where physical distancing is not practical.
The restrictions come as most states and territories except New South Wales introduced new border rules on those visiting from SA, essentially barring those from the state from entering.
Because of the Parafield outbreak a Hungry Jack's in Port Adelaide, a primary school in Mawson Lakes, Thomas Moore College in Salisbury Downs, Parafield Plaza supermarket and an aged care facility have been closed for cleaning.
In addition, a number of public health alerts for other businesses, bus stops, and the Mantra hotel in the CBD have been issued today.
Updated at 4.25pm AEDT on 16 November 2020.
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