South Australian seated venues to return to 75% capacity tonight

The South Australian Government has announced an easing of capacity restrictions for the state’s seated concert halls and indoor entertainment venues.

From 12:01am Thursday August 12, the state’s pubs, clubs, cinemas and eateries will be able to return to 75% trading capacity, with a maximum density of three people per four square metres.

All venues must be operated under the watch of a COVID marshal, while a COVID management plan is also required for venues used for “the purpose of loud music dancing and drinking”.

A mask mandate will remain across the state when in high-risk settings, including shared indoor public spaces and at outdoor entertainment events.

Harsher restrictions will remain for South Australia’s non-seated indoor venues and events, which must adhere to a density quotient of one person per two square metres, while restrictions on dancing and singing will also remain in place.

South Australian premier Steven Marshall said that venue restrictions and lockdowns would continue unless the state’s vaccination efforts increased.

“We are taking this in a prudent, careful way. We do not want to be going back into lockdown here in South Australia,” Marshall said.

“The reality is, we could be at this point for quite some time, until we can get our vaccination levels up.”

South Australia entered a week-long snap lockdown in late July after the state recorded five cases of COVID-19, putting a pause on Adelaide’s Illuminate festival and throwing the state’s arts sector into chaos.

The state’s borders currently remain closed to New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland in response to recent outbreaks in each state.

A full list of South Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions can be viewed here.