Emergency information
This information is accurate as at 4pm Tuesday 1 April 2020. We will be updating this page regularly if and when advice changes, however this is a quickly evolving situation, so please refer to the relevant health and government authorities outlined below for the most up-to-date information.
COVID-19
The South Australian Tourism Commission continues to monitor the respiratory illness outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus, known as COVID-19, and the impacts this has on our state’s tourism industry.
The outbreak was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March 2020.
The situation is continuously evolving – for the latest advice and information regarding COVID-19 and travel restrictions, please refer to the resources and links available here on our corporate site.
A dedicated state hotline is now available to South Australians and will provide local information on COVID-19 from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week. The SA COVID-19 Information Line is 1800 253 787.
Travel advice
For the latest information and advice about travel, see:
- SmartTraveller.gov.au – providing Australians with the latest information and advice for safe travel overseas
- World Health Organisation (WHO) – travel advice and recommendations for international traffic, including how to protect yourself during the COVID-19 outbreak.
WHAT TRAVEL IS PERMITTED RIGHT NOW?
Travel within South Australia is not encouraged. The current advice is to stay home as much as possible and to only leave home for grocery supplies, urgent medical appointments and for school or work if these cannot be done remotely. It is also the strong advice of the SA Premier Steven Marshall and Chief Medical Officer Nicola Spurrier that people do not travel this Easter and school holidays. You can read the latest statement from the South Australian Tourism Commission's Chief Executive, Rodney Harrex here. This includes cancelling your Easter holiday plans to slow the spread of Coronavirus. Non-essential travel to Kangaroo Island is not advised. Non-essential travel between states requires strict self-isolation for 14 days and your isolation location is required to be provided to border control and law enforcement when you cross. In all cases, the recommended social distancing and hygiene practices must be adhered to.
A number of linked COVID-19 cases have been identified in people who live in or have travelled through Tanunda, Nuriootpa, Williamstown, Angastown and Lyndoch in the popular tourism region of the Barossa, since March 14th 2020. Please stay home and limit your travel to tourist regions.
Hygiene best practice
Please keep yourself and others safe by adhering to advice from relevant authorities. Practice social distancing, wash hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing, and if you have any symptoms, stay home. If you are returning from overseas or have been in touch with someone who has COVID-19, then you must self-isolate.
Where can I find the latest health and medical advice?
- Australian Government Department of Health – updated daily with the latest medical advice and official report
- SA Health – useful links and information about COVID-19
- World Health Organisation (WHO) – updated daily with information and guidance about the outbreak worldwide.
Resources you might find useful:
- FAQs about COVID-19
- Simple steps to stop the spread
- Identifying the symptoms
- Isolation guidance
- Recently travelled overseas
- Coronavirus health information line – call 1800 020 080.