South Australia has relaxed its COVID-19 close contact rules but has also extended the emergency declaration to deal with the ongoing pandemic for another month.
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From Saturday close contacts of positive cases are no longer required to isolate for seven days, bringing SA into line with NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT.
The change comes with new rules including a requirement for close contacts to take five rapid antigen tests over the seven-day period.
They will also be required to wear masks when outside the home, are banned from visiting high-risk settings such as aged care centres, and must tell their employers and any schools they have contact with of their status.
Close contacts will further be urged to avoid any non-essential gatherings or contact with vulnerable people.
If they develop symptoms they must take a PCR test and isolate until receiving the result.
At the same time, an extension for the Major Emergency Declaration, which provides the legal framework for ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, has been approved.
The declaration will remain in force until the end of May, closing in on the government's previously stated deadline to have it removed by June 30.
Also remaining in force is a requirement for high school students to wear masks for the first four weeks of term two starting on Monday.
Primary school students will not be obliged to wear masks but it will be strongly recommended.
All teachers, workers and visitors in primary and high schools will be required to cover up.
Premier Peter Malinauaskas said the decision to keep masks in place for high schools, weeks after dropping more widespread mask use, was a difficult one.
"Wearing masks for kids in schools isn't convenient, it isn't natural," Mr Malinauskas said.
"But we're making this decision in their best interests. In the best interests of trying to minimise the disruption to the learning environment."
Meanwhile, the government is accelerating work to check on and improve the ventilation status in hundreds of schools and is buying another 1000 air purifiers at a cost of about $535,000.
Australian Associated Press
