Growers should continue to monitor SA Government sources to ensure that they receive the latest information. GPSA refers growers to PIRSA’s COVID-19 and primary industries portal for the latest updates.
PIRSA COVID-19 UPDATE FOR PRIMARY PRODUCERS
SA Health guidance on assessing and managing the risk of COVID exposures in businesses
SA Health has prepared sector specific documents to provide guidance on managing COVID exposure in businesses. You should also refer to your industry or sector guidance when planning and implementing your business continuity processes.
If you have question about managing COVID exposure in critical and essential businesses, please contact health.coronavirusenquiries@sa.gov.au.
General businesses and venues
Assessing and managing the risk: COVID exposures in general businesses and venues (PDF 126KB)
Specific sectors or industries covered by this guidance include:
- hospitality – cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs, functions, weddings
- community sport – gyms, swimming pools, saunas, dance studios
- places of worship
- retail services
- entertainment facilities – cinemas, theatres and concert halls
- higher level education – universities, TAFE, language schools
- beauty and other services – hairdressing salons, spas, nail salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, tattoo studios, wellness services (complementary and alternative therapies)
- information and educational facilities – libraries, museums, zoos, aquariums
- major recreation facilities – showgrounds, racecourses, agricultural shows, theme parks.
Essential businesses and venues
Assessing and managing the risk: COVID exposures in essential businesses and venues (79 KB)
Specific sectors or industries covered by this guidance include:
- accommodation – caravan, camping, backpackers, hotel and hostels
- office environments
- construction and trade
- transport freight and logistics
- supermarkets
- service stations
- public transport – buses, trains, trams, taxis, ride share services
- end of life services – funeral homes, crematoria.
Critical services and infrastructure
Assessing and managing the risk: COVID exposures in critical services and infrastructure (81 KB)
Specific sectors or industries covered by this guidance include:
- defence
- essential infrastructure work sites (i.e. energy services, water services, food manufacturing and distribution, excluding meat processing facilities)
- emergency services – SAPOL, State Emergency Services, fire services (excluding employees who work in COVID red zones)
- veterinary services
- agriculture.
Advice for meat processing facilities will be released shortly.
For more information on the new Test, Trace, Isolate, and Quarantine protocols, go to SA Health.
Testing requirements and travellers update – 2 December 2021
Testing requirements for arrivals from New South Wales
All arrivals from New South Wales (NSW) are level 3 (moderate risk) and are required to:
- have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before they enter SA
- complete a COVID-19 test on arrival to SA and quarantine until the test is taken
Essential travellers
Essential travellers do not need to complete a COVID-19 test prior to or upon arrival if they have either:
- evidence of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before they enter SA
- evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within the past 7 days.
Nhill arrivals
Nhill residents arriving in SA must have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours before they enter the state.
Cross Border Community (NSW and Victoria)
Cross Border Community members in Victoria (VIC) or NSW who travel beyond the Cross Border Corridor in South Australia with a person or people less than 12 years and 2 months of age must:
- have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours before they enter SA
- complete a COVID-19 test on arrival to SA and quarantine until the test is taken.
High risk travellers
Travellers from high risk Local Government Areas (LGAs) must:
- quarantine as directed for 7 days after arrival (previously 14)
- have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours prior to arrival in SA
- take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in SA
- take a COVID-19 test again on days 6 and 13
- complete a daily symptom check for 14 days after arrival using HealthCheck SA
- not enter high risk settings for 14 days after arrival
- not enter COVID Management Plan events for 14 days after arrival.
Unvaccinated travellers
Unvaccinated people planning to travel to South Australia must apply for an exemption to travel.
Applications for an exemption from entry conditions can be made with the EntryCheck SA application.
International travellers
Vaccinated international arrivals who have been outside Australia within the previous 14 days before their arrival in SA must:
- quarantine as directed for 14 days after arrival
- have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result received within 72 hours prior to your departure to Australia
- take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in SA
- take a COVID-19 test again on days 6 and 13
- daily symptom check for 14 days after arrival using HealthCheck SA.
All people planning to travel to SA from interstate and overseas, including returning South Australians, must apply through EntryCheck SA.
More information
- Existing directions, emergency declarations and FAQs
- Primary Industries and COVID-19
- Health advice on COVID-19
Keep informed
If you aren’t receiving COVID-19 updates for primary producers directly, subscribe to receive the latest industry updates on COVID-19 for primary producers to your inbox.
Other useful industry updates:
SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line
SA Health has launched a mental health support line to help support the health and wellbeing of South Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trained Lifeline counsellors will receive calls and also provide a call-back support service for people in distress, or who are in need of additional support caused by social isolation and long periods of quarantine. The support line will be staffed seven days week, from 8am to 8pm and can be reached at 1800 632 753.
Mental health emergency hotline: 13 14 65
Website: Mental health services
Read the SA Health Mental Health impacts of coronavirus (COVID-19) factsheet.
Work Health & Safety
Growers should proactively consider their WH&S arrangements and policies given the potential for the transmission of COVID-19 in SA.
Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a work environment that is without risks to health and safety.
Many workplaces have now implemented hygiene and social distancing requirements to minimise the potential for transmission.
SafeWork SA recommends that PCBUs:
- Closely monitor official Government sources for current information and advice
- Review and promote your business policies and measures for infection control
- Ensure that workers are aware of the isolation/quarantine periods in accordance with advice from the Australian Government Department of Health (this includes information on when staff should not attend work)
- Provide clear advice to workers about actions they should take if they become unwell or think they may have the symptoms of COVID-19, in accordance with advice from the Australian Government Department of Health
- Eliminate or minimise international work travel, in line with the travel advice on the Australian Government’s Smartraveller website
- Provide regular updates to workers about the situation and any changes to organisational policies or procedures
- Consider contingency planning to manage staff absences
- Provide workers with information and links to relevant services should they require support.
More information
COVID-19 safety and wellbeing resources for heavy vehicle operators
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has released a COVID-safe toolbox to help communicate COVID-safe practices to heavy vehicle operators. The NHVR has specifically developed these resources to help support businesses in protecting employees and the community during transport activities.
COVID-safe resources;
- Safety toolbox talk – webpage
- Safety toolbox talk – COVID-19 – complete video course
- ‘Cleaning hands, using gloves and wearing a facemask’ – hand hygiene PDF download, wearing a facemask PDF download, video
- ‘Vehicle hygiene’ – DOCX checklist, video
- ‘Keeping workplaces clean’ – PDF checklist, video
- ‘Now More Than Ever’ social media campaign- video 1, video 2
Mental health and wellbeing resources;
- ‘Take care of your mental health’ fact sheet – PDF download
- ‘Looking after your health and wellbeing’ – video
- ‘7 tips to improve your mental health’ – video
