Emergency powers that allowed South Australia's Police Commissioner Grant Stevens to impose COVID-19 lockdowns and mask and vaccine mandates have officially been rescinded.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas described the decision as a "historic moment" in the state's COVID-19 response.
He and the Police Commissioner have visited Government House to have the powers revoked, a month earlier than initially flagged.
"There's something like 290 directions that have been signed that have required South Australians to take specific action to help us manage COVID-19," Commissioner Stevens said.
"So I think it's important I acknowledge the community as well."
The change means COVID will now be policed under the state's Public Health Act, which has been amended to allow a Cabinet sub-committee to devise COVID-19 directions, which will be officially imposed by the Governor.
The amendments to the act include the creation of a COVID oversight committee for the next six months to assess any new restrictions.
School mask mandates to lift
The Premier also announced mask mandates in schools would be lifted from next week, following a meeting of the state's emergency management committee.
"That's an important step for our high school students who want to get back to learning in an environment as normal as possible," Mr Malinauskas said.
He added that mask mandates would be reinstated if a school recorded more than 10 cases of COVID in one classroom, or more than five cases across five different classrooms.
Masks will now be strongly recommended, but not required, for all adults, including visitors, and students in years 3 to 12.
'We're not over the pandemic'
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier urged South Australians against complacency.
"We are not over the pandemic, but we’re moving into a different legal framework," she said.
South Australia has recorded 3,482 new cases of COVID-19, and 14 new deaths including a man in his 30s.
Professor Spurrier said the amendments to the Public Health Act would permit the easing of restrictions when safe to do so.
"Also importantly, we have legal framework to require vaccination still for health care workers, aged care workers and people working in disability because our real focus is people who are more vulnerable and will have more severe disease if they catch COVID."
