South Australian premier Steven Marshall has announced a suite of further COVID-19 restrictions as fears grow over the spread of the Omicron variant, while lifting a requirement for mandatory PCR tests for people arriving in the state.
"Effective immediately we are going to take the decisive action to make sure that we can protect SA and slow down the spread of Omicron so we can get those booster jabs into people's arms," Mr Marshall said in a snap Boxing Day announcement.
Density restrictions will be changed from midnight tonight in gyms to one person per seven metres, to one per four metres in indoor hospitality venues and one per two metres in outdoor hospitality venues.
"We are increasingly concerned about the new Omicron variant," the premier said.
"It will overwhelm our health system and seriously undermine our workforce's ability to respond to this Omicron outbreak."
The state will also reduce the number of household visitors allowed, with only 10 people permitted during visits to homes, down from 30.
"We also strongly advise people where they can to work from home, to do so immediately, where they can reduce the movement around the state, they do so immediately," Mr Marshall said.
Authorities will scrap a requirement for negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival into SA, with the focus shifting to testing only people with symptoms, the premier announced.
"We will be removing the need for people coming in from interstate into SA to have that PCR test within 72 hours of departure [from another state]. This is no longer our priority around Australia. Our priority for testing around Australia is testing those people who have symptoms," he said.
South Australia recorded 774 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
Seventeen people are in hospital and three are in intensive care.
