South Australia to lift restrictions earlier than planned

After reporting zero active cases of COVID-19 in South Australia on Friday, the State Government has decided to accelerate its plan to lift restrictions.

From Friday restaurants and cafes will be able to entertain 20 guests - 10 seated inside and 10 seated outside - and serve alcohol.

SA will also be moving to its second stage of easing restrictions earlier than planned.

Stage 2 will now come into effect on Friday 5 June, three days earlier than originally envisioned.

The specifics of what exactly will be allowed on 5 June are still being organised by medical officials and will be announced closer to the date, but the State Government has confirmed that all pubs across the state will be permitted to open.

The Premier says the lifting of restrictions on 5 June will be outlined in a "principles-based approach" in the coming days.

The changes will mean more SA businesses are able to operate over the June long weekend.

"I think everybody knows that we have done extraordinarily well in Australia in managing the health crisis and in particular in South Australia we have done an outstanding job," Premier Steven Marshall said this morning.

"We know that the economic crisis is really hitting the people of our state, the businesses of our state, the families here in South Australia; people have lost jobs. So we really have got to get the balance right."

"We have listened to what the people of South Australia have they want to move to stage two sooner than the Monday of the long weekend. We know that it would be great for regional South Australia. We know it would be great for businesses in metropolitan Adelaide."

The South Australian Roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions has been updated. STEP 1: Indoor and outdoor dining allowed at cafes and restaurants (10 indoors/10 outdoors) from 22 May. STEP 2: Changes will come into effect from 5 June. Updated roadmap: https://t.co/yg2v6rmuWTpic.twitter.com/Dn3y48ykVX

SA Health (@SAHealth) May 20, 2020

When the State's roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions was announced earlier this month Stage 2 envisioned the reopening of the following with a capacity of 20 people:

• Cinemas and theatres
• Seated dining
• Galleries and museums
• Beauty, nails, tattoo, massage (non-therapeutic)
• Driving instruction lessons
• Gyms and indoor fitness
• Funerals (50 max)
• Sports transition to competition without spectators, including indoor sports

The announcement comes as Australia only has nine people in ICU for COVID-19 treatment.

1.1 million tests have been conducted, and there have been 11 new cases of COVID-19 today to a total of 7,079. Four of these cases were in NSW, seven in VIC, and one in QLD.

Updated at 11:48am AEST on 20 May 2020.