South Australia Enters Six-Day Lockdown, Retail Set to Close

Updated: 3:17pm

The entire state will be ordered to these restrictions, leaving retailers to close their doors for the period. The ‘Circuit Breaker’ lockdown will last six days.

“We need a circuit-breaker,” said South Australian Premier, Steven Marshall.

South Australian residents will only be able to leave the house to access groceries, and all remaining retail will close.

The state’s Chief Public Health Officer Professor, Nicola Spurrier said that all retail must shut in order to have a ‘normal Christmas’. “This is really the one chance we’ve got to having a normal Christmas,” she said.

“Businesses in SA bear the brunt of this type of thing and we will feel it as immediately as of tomorrow morning,” explained Business SA Chief Executive, Martin Haese. “Nonetheless, it is a short-term period, hopefully this interruption, this disruption, will basically circuit break the outbreak in South Australia and by next Wednesday, we will be back in business, so fingers crossed.”

Supermarkets and essential stores will remain open. “I do think people are going to flood our supermarkets. This afternoon is going to be a particularly challenging time for our retail outlets,” said Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.

Further restrictions include the closure of cafes, food courts, take away food services, universities, and regional travel.

“That is the list as it stands at this point but I’ve stressed we are still working on the final list in terms of what those restrictions will be and what will be allowed to operate and we will be updating further into the afternoon and evening is that list becomes available,” he said.

There have been no updates on the restrictions of e-commerce sales, however, the airport and freight services, including courier services, will continue operating.

The lockdown restrictions will take place from midnight tonight.

More to come.