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Health

SA records two COVID-linked deaths and 1,445 new cases as Premier foreshadows fourth jab

There are currently 210 people in hospital with COVID, including 16 in ICU and five on ventilators. (ABC News: Eugene Boisvert)

Another two people with COVID-19 have died in South Australia, with the Premier declaring state health authorities will now consider the latest federal advice around vaccinations.

SA Health said the deaths were a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 90s.

The state recorded 1,445 cases of the virus in the 24 hours to midnight, continuing a downward trend of daily totals.

Hospital numbers appear relatively stable, with 210 COVID-19 patients currently receiving treatment in hospital, 16 in intensive care and 5 patients on ventilators.

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre in North Adelaide has been identified a "high risk location" — one of only a handful of sites to be publicly listed by SA Health this year.

People who were at the centre during the exposure times between February 3 and 9 should closely monitor for symptoms, particularly those who were not wearing a mask, and get tested as soon as any symptoms develop.

Australia's definition of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 is set to change, with people aged over 16 years now only considered "up to date" with their vaccinations if they have had booster shots.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended moving away from the term "fully vaccinated".

ATAGI's new advice was endorsed by national cabinet at a meeting on Thursday afternoon, and Mr Marshall said SA health authorities would now consider their next steps.

"We obviously received the new and updated ATAGI information," Premier Steven Marshall said.

"We've already made three jabs mandatory in certain sectors, for example health care and we've also done it in aged care settings.

"It's quite possible that we will receive advice on that. There wasn't specific advice yesterday from ATAGI, it was more general advice. What we'll do is we'll take all of that into account."

Mr Marshall said South Australians would have access to Novavax from February 23. (Supplied: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)

Mr Marshall said SA was "on track to start administering" Novavax from February 23, and has also foreshadowed a fourth jab.

"I think there is now increasing information coming from around the world that there is the potential for a fourth booster to be required," Mr Marshall said.

"But there's still so much more work to be done on what the make-up of that booster would be, whether it would be Omicron-specific or whether it would be more broad.

"We don't have anything in the market for the TGA to approve at this stage."

Mr Marshall said while there had been "very low vaccine hesitancy in South Australia", the arrival of Novavax, and rollout from February 23, would be a "relief" for some.

"We had confirmation yesterday of when we would be receiving our vaccine doses into South Australia," he said.

"We will provide further details in the coming days exactly where people can book in and also where they'll be able to have that jab."

Restrictions on outdoor dining have eased but some parts of the hospitality sector are hoping for further repeals. (ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)

Hospitality restrictions could ease within weeks

The latest relaxation of social distancing measures has come into effect today, with home gathering limits lifted from 10 to 50 people.

Density limits on the fitness industry have eased and outdoor dining is at 75 per cent capacity.

"It's fantastic for I guess all the fitness industry to have that slight easing in restrictions — for us, it just gives us extra people in classes which is probably the main thing where we'll see the benefit," North Adelaide gym owner Aaron Ramsay said.

Amy Rutten has welcomed the increased density limit for gyms from one person per seven square metres, to one person per four square metres. (ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)

Amy Rutten runs a yoga business, and she said the changes would allow her to have 30 people in a class.

"We've essentially doubled our capacity overnight which is a good feeling," she said.

However, some within the hospitality sector have said indoor restrictions must be relaxed.

"I feel disappointed and exhausted because it doesn't help the business at all, we're just going up that little bit more and people are scared to go out," pub manager Amy Veitch said.

Zuma Caffe owner John Veloudos said people's hesitancy to venture into the city was a bigger hurdle than the restrictions themselves.

"People became fearful to come out … more than even the restrictions," he said.

"It was a double whammy actually."

Zuma Caffe owner John Veloudos. (ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)

But Mr Veloudos, whose cafe is in the Adelaide Central Markets, said he was still thrilled restrictions had been eased for the hospitality industry after being "brought to our knees," and he hoped the move would give customers more confidence to dine out.

The change in restrictions has also given confidence to business owners like Mattis Vanzati, who opened a new cafe in the western suburb of Henley Beach today.

"We feel confident opening a new venue, bringing on new staff … and sort of committing to developing our business," he said.

"It does feel good to see a light at the end of the tunnel."

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide the hospitality sector could be the focus of a further easing of restrictions in a fortnight, even if there is an increase in cases.

"If we do see some marginal increase in cases, then there is a possibility that we may still consider lifting some restrictions, as long as it's within that capacity limit for our hospitals," he said.

Mattis Vanzati opened a new restaurant at Henley Beach today. (ABC News: Evelyn Manfield)

"We do want to manage this as safely as possible and we'll just have to see how it plays out.

"We've looked at the modelling that's been provided to us by Adelaide University and that shows us that whilst we might see an increase in cases, it's within the level of tolerance that we've got within our health system to be able to cope with those cases."

Data shows many older Australians haven't had their booster
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