South Australia's Premier Steven Marshall has promised businesses will receive a financial compensation package this week, in response to tightened restrictions.
Speaking to ABC Radio Mr Marshall said the details of the plan were still being finalised.
"Let's just see what we announce today, I'm not going to pre-announce it…" he said.
"I'll be meeting again with the Treasurer this morning, then we have [state] cabinet this afternoon, so we should be able to finalise that package to support those businesses,
"Particularly those businesses in the hospitality and fitness sector, which have been most adversely affected."
SA on Sunday recorded 774 new COVID-19 cases — 81 per cent of which were Omicron — prompting authorities to reintroduce tough density limits at hospitality venues, gyms and home gatherings ahead of New Year's Eve celebrations.
Cafes and restaurants saw their density limits slashed from 75 to 25 per cent — or one person per 4 square metres.
Gyms and fitness centres had capacity limits restricted to one person per 7 square metres.
A 'different' New Year's Eve
Yesterday, SA Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier pleaded for this year's New Year's Eve celebrations "to be the absolutely quietest New Year's Eve everybody has ever had".
The Premier echoed that sentiment, warning the Omicron variant posed a new risk.
"We're sending a strong message that this New Year's Eve is going to be a different New Year's Eve from others," he said.
The Premier said decisions to continue with major events, like the Light Up New Year's Eve celebrations in Rymill Park, were ultimately a matter for SA Health and event organisers.
"Those decisions are made by Health, but a seated, ticketed, outdoor event, where people have masks on are just not comparable to big house parties where people are drinking and dancing and losing inhibitions, and spreading the virus," he said.
All major events in South Australia are required to have a COVID Management Plan in place.
'Vaccinations aren't holding up' against Omicron transmission
Part of Mr Marshall's justification for the tightening of restrictions days before they were supposed to ease, is the 'exponential increase' in Omicron cases.
South Australia recorded 1,472 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, with 37 people in hospital — five of those in intensive care.
The Premier said modelling suggested about 1 per cent of people that contract the Omicron strain of COVID will need to be hospitalised, with up to 15 per cent of those projected to go into intensive care.
"So our focus is on making sure we have the right capacity in our hospital, making sure we can get as many vaccinations in the arms of South Australians, and it's about slowing this down so we don't get all the cases coming at once."
He also suggested booster shots, which are being mandated for frontline health workers will become a requirement in other settings too, as protection against the Omicron variant wanes.
However, the Premier said the vaccination was providing a greater level of protection against the severity of illness.
"My strong message is, if you're eligible for a booster, get that shot."
