An URGENT COVID-19 UPDATE from the
Acting General Secretary  

24th December 2021

This morning the State Premier held a press conference announcing that due to the escalating case numbers of COVID-19 in South Australia, the changes to restrictions due to take effect on 28th December will now not proceed.  

The change to restrictions has been postponed. This means that the new COVID-Safe Plans issued to churches this week, will not take effect. Your existing COVID-Safe Plan remains in place. This means that the current level of restrictions remains in place for now. These restrictions are:

Mask wearing
Wearing of masks remains mandatory in high risk settings, personal care and health care services, passenger and public transport, secondary schools, and indoor public places – this includes churches.

Singing
Attendees at indoor religious services may sing during worship and members of choirs or chorus groups may perform or rehearse indoors, if they wear masks while doing so.

(To ensure masks remain effective and protect you, you should change your mask as soon as it becomes damp and also after you have finished singing. Please ensure you bring spare masks, a bag to keep used masks in, and hand sanitiser to use before and after putting on, or taking off a mask).

The following exemptions from mask wearing during singing apply if:

• The singer is performing individually (not including a karaoke performer)
• The singers are members of a group of performers and they are performing or rehearsing in the indoor premises (not including karaoke performers or persons performing or rehearsing as part of a choir or chorus)
• The premises are an educational establishment
• The singers are undertaking or providing an individual lesson.

Density requirements and additional directions
The density requirement for seated activities is 3 per 4 square metres. This applies to church services.

The density requirement for standing (or mixed seating and standing) activities is 1 per 2 square metres.

For gyms and indoor fitness activities the density is 1 per 4 square metres.

Weddings and funerals, as well as private activities are capped at 150 people (at non-residential premises).

Food and beverage consumption remains seated (except for private activities), no communal service areas.

The Premier and Chief Public Health Officer have indicated that they will be monitoring the situation closely, and further changes to restrictions may be brought in. Please monitor the SA Government’s COVID website for changes. We will provide further information as it comes to hand.

We have had a number of churches who have had a positive COVID case attend worship in the last week. It seems likely that this will occur more frequently in the coming weeks. Please be alert to what you need to do if you have a positive case. Please find the link to this information here. 

We understand that this is a very challenging time for the South Australian community and indeed for our churches. If you need support in navigating the COVID restrictions, please contact:

• Rev Sue Page / email spage@sa.uca.org.au / (08) 8236 4217/ 0430 666 959
   
• Rev Philip Gardner / email pgardner@sa.uca.org.au / (08) 8236 4268.

We are available during the Synod office closure period.

Please pray for all those effected by COVID this Christmas, and for the frontline health workers and support staff who are working tirelessly to keep out state safe.

We pray for the light of Christ to shine brightly on all in our communities, bringing peace, hope, joy and love this Christmas.

Grace and Peace,

Rev Sue Page
Acting General Secretary