SA active virus cases close to zero

SA Health reported no new infections on Monday with the state’s infection total remaining on 439.

Only one of those is still considered active.

Another person remains in hospital after recovering from the illness but is no longer infectious.

SA has begun lifting virus restrictions with alcohol-free dining allowed in cafes and restaurants provided the number of patrons is limited to 10.

Next month that will be increased to 20 and alcohol will be permitted along with indoor dining, clearing the way for pubs to open their doors again.

Premier Steven Marshall has also suggested the 20-person limit could be increased to ensure the viability of the hospitality sector.

“We’re sitting down with the industry to work out how we might go even more than that when they open because we want to get them back to being viable,” the premier said.

“But we’ve got to do it in a safe way.

“There will definitely be limits. We’ve got to take this incrementally. We can’t go from zero to 2000.”

Meanwhile, seasonal workers will now be required to self-quarantine before commencing work in the state under the changes as they will no longer be considered “essential travellers”.

People who wish to travel to SA under the essential travellers clause will need to show they:

* work in transport or freight services;

* have skills critical to maintaining key industries or business, such as specialists;

* are responsible for maintenance or repair of infrastructure critical to the state;

* are residents who travel for work for regular periods; or

* are residents near the SA border and have reasonable cause to travel across the border.

Australian Associated Press