South Australia and Tasmania update their directions on aged care restrictions – fall into line with Industry Code

Both states had been ‘marching to their own drum’ on the restrictions imposed on aged care homes during the coronavirus pandemic.  South Australia has already relaxed its rules for aged care visits including restrictions on the entry of emergency personnel which had raised concerns some homes were turning away paramedics.  Under the updated directions, residents can now leave their home for exercise – in addition to medical and dental appointments and funerals – as long as they stay within 500 metres of the home.  As we covered here, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein had defied the National Cabinet advice to allow family members to visit for up to two hours once a day, maintaining residents could only have one visit per week even as the national Industry Code for aged care visits was introduced on 12 May.  The state has now updated its directions to match the national advice for daily visits by up to two visitors for no longer than two hours.