South Australia will come out of lockdown at midnight on Saturday, three days early!

Outdoor exercise with family or housemates will be allowed "effective immediately”

After record numbers of tests there has only been three new coronavirus cases linked to the Parafield cluster since yesterday.

Everyone has been doing a wonderful job of staying home and staying safe! Well done South Australia!

Read more about the changes to the lockdown on ABC News: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-20/sa-coronavirus-hard-lockdown-to-end-early/12903834

Not Out Of The Woods Yet!

There are still a lot of unknowns and potential for the situation to change. Remember to wash your hands regularly, practice socially distancing, wear a mask if you’re going out. Let’s make sure we stop the spread here in SA: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/health-advice/stop-the-spread-in-sa

Are You In Quarantine?

For those in quarantine and who are directly affected by the Parafield cluster, there is direct government financial support and payments available. You may be eligible for ‘Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment’ or the ‘SA COVID-19 Cluster Isolation Payment’ which is a single $300 payment to provide financial support to workers in South Australia who are required to self-isolate because of a public health direction from SA Health and mandatory COVID-19 testing, and do not have access to paid leave or other income support

Find more information here: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/school-and-community/financial-support-for-individuals

Feeling Financially Stressed?

If you are feeling overwhelmed about your current financial situation and you would like to talk to someone, call the Affordable SA Helpline on 1800 025 539 to speak to a free Financial Counsellor. You can find a range of options here: https://affordablesa.com.au/programs/money-and-finances/financial-counselling-services

Keeping yourself fit and healthy can be difficult in normal circumstances, so it’s going to be very tricky during the lockdown. The best advice seems to be to keep it simple. Make sure you move as much as possible and eat lots of fruit and veggies. Drink plenty of water and get quality sleep (about 8 hours is ideal). Dance and sing often!

Try to keep some routine for you and your family, so make exercise time consistent if you can. Start the day with free online yoga, or get some cardio into your lunch break, learn a new language with Duo Lingo or try making meditation a standard part of your day. This can be an opportunity to do something positive for yourself and your family.

It's an important time to keep in touch with friends and relatives who are living alone. A quick phone or facetime call to see how a loved one is going could make all the difference in that persons day and is an opportunity to lift their spirits and also lifts yours. Keep connected and support each other.

If you are feeling stressed or finding it hard to cope and you need to talk to someone, you can find support here: https://affordablesa.com.au/programs/well-being/covid-19-virtual-support-network

[Affordable SA](https://www.affordablesa.com.au/) believes that your health and well-being is an important part of managing yourself through troubled times and financial hardship. Helping you to respond to the challenges that we all face today and the future. Check out the [Well-Being](https://www.affordablesa.com.au/programs/well-being) and [Healthcare](https://www.affordablesa.com.au/programs/health-care) section of the app and website to find more ways to look after yourself without breaking the budget.

If you have been financially impacted by COVID-19 it is important to contact your providers and creditors straight away by visiting their websites or giving them call to see what immediate assistance is available. If you're experiencing financial hardship ring the [Affordable SA Helpline](https://www.affordablesa.com.au/programs/money-and-finances/affordable-sa-helpline) on 1800 025 539 or make an appointment to speak to a [financial counsellor](https://www.affordablesa.com.au/programs/money-and-finances/financial-counselling-services). They are free, independent, confidential and most of all, they are there to help you.

If you are in need of support with accessing food, food pantries are operating as essential services - find a food pantry location near you here: https://affordablesa.com.au/programs/food

Remember to wash you hands with soap and water and practice social distancing as much as you can. Wear a mask if you do need to go out. Stay safe but focus on keeping healthy and busy at home – its up to you now!

A number of COVID-19 cases have been identified in the community in South Australia. For the latest updates and advice, visit the SA Covid-19 information web site: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/

You can also call the dedicated SA COVID-19 information line - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, 7 days.

1800 253 787

Restrictions and responsibilities

You can find all the latest on restrictions for activities, travel and gatherings here: [https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities]( https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities)

Contact Tracing

If you visited any of the locations in the link below during the listed times, you do not need to self-quarantine but you should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if symptoms appear.

https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/testing+and+tracing/contact+tracing

Testing for Covid-19

https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/testing+and+tracing/testing+for+covid-19

People who have any of the symptoms below, even if mild, should get tested for COVID-19 as soon as symptoms appear:

- fever OR chills (with no alternative illness that explains these symptoms)

- cough

- sore throat

- runny nose

- shortness of breath

- loss of taste or smell

Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency, such as difficulty breathing or chest pain.

Everyday Precautions

Practising good hygiene is the first step in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

- Wash your hands often with soap and running water, for at least 20 seconds. Dry them with paper towel or a hand dryer. Alternatively use alcohol based hand sanitisers.

- Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow.

- Stay home if you’re unwell to avoid making others sick.

Physical Distancing

Physical distancing (or social distancing) means avoiding close contact and crowded places wherever you can. You should:

- keep at least 1.5 metres distance from others wherever and whenever possible

- avoid hugging and kissing

- swap handshakes for a wave

- turn face to face interactions into phone or video conference calls

- consider working from home

- pay using tap-and-go instead of cash.

Financial Impacts

If you have been financially impacted by COVID-19 it is important to contact your providers and creditors straight away by visiting their websites or giving them call to see what immediate assistance is available.

If you are feeling overwhelmed about your current financial situation and you would like to talk to someone, call the Affordable SA Helpline on 1800 025 539 to speak to a free Financial Counsellor. You can find a range of options here: https://affordablesa.com.au/programs/money-and-finances/financial-counselling-services