10 December 2020
UPDATE FOR THE RESOURCES AND ENERGY SECTOR
Update to COVID-19 restrictions in South Australia from Monday, 14 December 2020
Premier of South Australia Steven Marshall announced yesterday that COVID-19 restrictions will ease in a range of settings, including at licensed venues and home gatherings from Monday, 14 December 2020.
The recommendation to work from home will also be lifted with people encouraged to start returning to the office. Directions under the Emergency Management Act 2004 are being updated but basically return the level of restrictions to those in place before the Parafield Cluster outbreak was identified two weeks ago. The density rule for workplaces returns to one person for each two square metres and the advice on physical social distancing of 1.5 metres remains in place. Businesses are urged to maintain appropriate personal hygiene standards in their workplace and ensure that any employees who feel unwell seek a COVID-19 test and self-isolate until the results are known.
The South Australian government is expanding the use of the COVID SAfe Check-In QR code system to the retail sector. The COVID SAfe Check-In feature is a smartphone application that has enhanced South Australia’s contact tracing efforts. If someone in South Australia tests positive to COVID-19, the COVID SAfe Check-In feature enables SA Health to quickly contact others who may have been exposed to the virus, controlling the spread. A paper-based template is available as a back-up for those customers without a smartphone.
Cross-border restrictions are also being eased with Queensland to open its border to Adelaide residents from 1.00am Saturday 12 December 2020. The less restrictive travel arrangements are expected to assist the energy and mining sectors to resume their normal FIFO arrangements and assist in the business continuity of these essential industries. Interstate border arrangements may however, continue to change. Companies with interstate FIFO/DIDO interests are strongly encouraged to continue monitoring these developments.
For further information on these changes as well as advice on the COVID SAfe Check-In feature is available at the South Australian government’s COVID19 website
Thank you again for your continued support and your efforts to keep South Australia safe while maintaining business continuity in your essential industries during this challenging period.
Any queries can be emailed to the Department of Energy and Mining at DEM.industryenquiries@sa.gov.au
Stay well,
Paul Heithersay
Chief Executive
Department for Energy and Mining