From tomorrow, in line with the recent National Cabinet announcement, South Australians who test positive to COVID-19 will no longer have a legal requirement to isolate.
To protect others in our community, anyone with symptoms is encouraged to take steps to stop the spread of disease by continuing to get tested and stay at home until symptoms have cleared (usually five to seven days).
Getting tested when you have COVID-19 symptoms remains important, particularly for people who are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19-and their carers-and who may be eligible for oral antiviral treatments.
Those who are COVID positive may be infectious for up to 10 days and are at their most infectious in the two days before their symptoms start and until symptoms clear.
If you test positive using a RAT, there is still a requirement for South Australians to report their result online. PCR testing remains available across the state while a transition is underway with general practice to move to GP referred COVID testing.
If you are COVID-19 positive and you must leave the house, it is strongly recommended you:
- Wear a mask especially when indoors or on public transport.
- Not attend large gatherings and crowded indoor places.
- For at least seven days, avoid people at high risk of severe illness, or anyone in a hospital, aged or disability care facility.
Businesses and employers should consider their own polices in response to these changes in terms of their own work health and safety obligations. People testing positive for COVID-19 and close contacts should advise their employer and discuss return-to-work plans.
Those working in sensitive settings such as health, disability and aged care will need to have a longer period away from the workplace to protect other staff, patients, residents, and clients.
Masks will still be required to be worn in hospitals and many general practices as well as other primary health care sites including Aboriginal Controlled Health services.
The legal requirement for COVID-19 vaccination will also continue to apply in some settings while this transitions over to work health and safety policies. These settings include people working in public and private hospitals, disability care, residential aged care facilities, and ambulance services.
People who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, particularly those that they live with or who they spend a lot of time with indoors, are at an increased risk of catching COVID-19.
Close contacts should continue to monitor for symptoms, get tested and stay at home until symptoms have cleared. They should also consider wearing a mask when indoors and avoid visiting people at high risk of severe illness, or anyone in a hospital, or an aged or disability care facility.
To find a testing clinic near you, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidtesting
For general COVID-19 information, visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVID-19.
Statement attributable to Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier:
Today's changes to COVID-19 rules align with changes across Australia.
South Australians have done an incredible job keeping each other safe throughout the pandemic and I know this will continue as we move forward.
While South Australians will no longer be required to isolate, getting tested when you have cold or flu like symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever is especially important for people who are more vulnerable and at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and who may be eligible for oral antiviral treatments.
We can shift to the next phase of the pandemic, due the very high rates of vaccination and hybrid immunity and businesses and individuals having the capacity and expertise to now take more control.
I encourage all South Australians to review our latest health advice and guidance for cases and close contacts. Keep up your vaccinations, access oral antiviral treatments if you are eligible and consider wearing a mask depending on your own risk profile when in crowded indoor environments.
