Early quarantine release for ‘low risk’ travellers
Fully vaccinated, “low-risk'” travellers who entered South Australia before borders reopened on Tuesday are being released from quarantine early after SA Health downgraded its previous policy.
South Australian South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: David Mariuz/AAP
A spokesperson for SA Health advised InDaily that “low risk” travellers who arrived before the reopening of the borders on November 23 are currently being released from quarantine.
“We’re in the process of contacting low-risk arrivals prior to the 23rd to tell them they can leave quarantine,” the spokesperson said.
Prior to the policy change revealed today, South Australia required restricted travellers to enter 14 days quarantine even if they arrived only shortly before borders were lifted.
Factors SA Health are taking into account to determine whether a traveller is low-risk include whether they are fully vaccinated, as well as whether areas they have travelled through had had any COVID community transmission and a vaccination rate above 90 per cent.
The spokesperson added that SA Health began contacting eligible persons in quarantine on Wednesday, and that only double-vaccinated travellers would be eligible for early release.
It follows SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens telling 5AA this morning that any fully vaccinated traveller who arrived prior to the border reopening would be released early.
“It’s simply the case that anyone who was in quarantine subject to SA Health direction, having arrived from interstate, were allowed to leave quarantine requirements as long as they were double vaccinated,” Stevens said.
A SA Police spokesperson advised InDaily that “the South Australian Police Commissioner said on radio any arrivals who were quarantining at home in SA when the state reopened … and are double vaccinated, no longer have to quarantine as per instructions.”
Travellers now only have to enter seven days of home quarantine if they have been through areas with evidence of COVID-19 community transmission that have a vaccination rate below 80 per cent, or have arrived from overseas.
SA Police advised InDaily that the new HealthCheck SA app will be used to manage the quarantine, testing and symptom check requirements of positive COVID-19 cases and their contacts.
“For people unable to use the app, additional in person compliance visits may be undertaken and telephone check ins may be initiated,” the spokesperson said.
