Why is South Australia lifting the lockdown earlier than expected?

Summary

• South Australia is lifting the harsh lockdown after a suspicious contact tracer found misleading information from one of the positive cases.
• The individual in Adelaide sparked suspicion after saying he was a customer at a hot spot pizzeria, but he was found working in the kitchen and another hotel quarantine hotspot.
• This case is now the second high-profile misleading case alongside the Melbournian who failed to inform the tracers about his trip to regional Victoria. However, there are no fines or legal charges against dishonesty to contact tracers.
• South Australia is loosening restrictions from midnight on Saturday, three days before the initial deadline. All non-businesses that were not allowed to work will be permitted to start their operations.

Just two days after the harsh lockdown was announced in South Australia, contact tracers discovered that a pizzeria worker from Adelaide had lied to them.

Effective immediately, South Australians can go back to outdoor exercise and recreation outside their homes. Moreover, border closure will end three days earlier than expected, as a crucial statement made by the Adelaide individual was proven to be misleading.

SA Premier Steven Marshall announced this news earlier today but still stood by his decision to lock the entire state, apart from all essential businesses. Mr Marshall stated that his decision was based entirely on the health officials’ advice, as they showed concerns about the newly developed cluster.

Just before the announcement, the state confirmed three more COVID-19 cases. The trio was, however, already in self-isolation and in close contact of previously verified positive cases. 

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What happened?

The premier decided to end the hard lockdown because the Adelaide individual had provided misleading information about his role in contact tracing. The man claimed he was a customer in the Woodville Pizza Bar, whereas he only worked there in the kitchen.

The man was also working at another hot spot in Adelaide, the Stamford Hotel.

Due to his lie, the state took a strict decision of locking up the entire state, including schools and non-essential businesses. South Australians were not allowed to do any outdoor exercises – not even to walk their pets.

As contact tracers keep close contacts with confirmed cases, they found out that the story ‘did not add up’, finding that the guy had worked together with a guard from the Peppers Waymouth, who also tested positive. The other man was a security guard in hotel quarantine.

Mr Marshall expressed his anger about the pizza man’s decision, saying South Australia would never have been forced into lockdown, had he been truthful. On the other hand, his lie misled the tracing dynamic in a completely different direction, but thankfully that has now been taken care of.

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Even though the Adelaide resident committed serious tracing misconduct, he will not be fined or legally accused of his actions, stated Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

This misleading information comes as the second high-profile lie spoken to contact tracers. The first event occurred in Melbourne, when a truck driver, who tested positive, failed to mention his trip to the regional Victoria. The man waited for two weeks after he told the complete truth to the tracers.

However, SA Premier was satisfied to see the response from his fellow residents, as they did not show an iota of objection to the hard lockdown.

What will change?

A maximum of ten people will be allowed to visit private homes from midnight on Saturday. Up to 100 individuals will be able to dine in pubs and restaurants, and a maximum of 50 people will be able to attend funerals.

Even though there are increased numbers for the attendees, public spaces will still need to abide by social distancing rules – one person per four square meters if not from the same group. No one will still be allowed to stand up or move from their allocated seats.

South Australians that work in personal care and beauty industry will need to wear a facemask at all times. Their customers are also encouraged to wear a mask during the visits to the premises.

Exercise facilities such as gyms are also allowed to open up from Saturday midnight.