Late last night, the Commissioner of Police published a direction providing for extended shop trading for supermarkets and other essential stores for the next 6 days – as part of the COVID-19 Stay at Home Direction.
Treasurer Rob Lucas' exemption will, therefore, be issued to cover the remaining 8 days of the recommended 14-day exemption period - from Wednesday 25 November to Wednesday 2 December (inclusive) – based on expert public health advice.
The Treasurer's exemption will allow supermarkets and other essential stores (including pharmacies) across suburban Adelaide to trade extended hours – including the option of 24-hour weekday trade and 9am to 9pm trade on Sunday November 29.
This decision is supported by SA Health public health experts, who say that the additional hours will help facilitate physical distancing - one of the best ways to limit the spread of COVID-19 - and access to goods.
Under the exemption, supermarkets will be able to open an extra 4 hours until 9pm on Saturday November 28.
On Sunday November 29, supermarkets can trade from 9am to 9pm (instead of 11am to 5pm).
Treasurer Lucas said the exemption will give supermarkets, pharmacies and other essential stores the opportunity to further support vulnerable customers, including the elderly and people with a disability.
"We have always acted according to public health advice, and SA Health supports this extended trade as a way of promoting critical physical distancing," said Mr Lucas.
All employees working during the extended hours would do so strictly on a voluntary basis and no-one can be forced to work the additional hours.
