As tourists embrace the Easter long weekend and school holidays get into full swing, bare-faced customers will greet some businesses in the Eyre Peninsula and upper Spencer Gulf region, as mask and QR-code mandates are lifted.
Premier Peter Malinauskas announced earlier this week that from the Easter long weekend, masks would no longer be required in retail shops, supermarkets and licensed venues such as pubs and clubs, or in personal care locations including hairdressers and beauty salons.
Masks will still be compulsory in high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care or residential disability facilities, on public transport and in ride-sharing vehicles.
The relaxation of COVID mandates has been welcomed by some businesses, but not everyone intends to let their guard down.
Sandy Palm, who works in retail for Williams Shoes in port Lincoln, said she would continue to wear a mask at work.
Boston Bay Diner owner Nino Tangredi says he has no issues with the relaxation of the pandemic rules.
"I've told my employees that if they wish to wear the mask it's up to them," he said.
"We'd have to shut down basically [if he caught COVID]."
Danny Walker, from Breeze Bistro in Whyalla, says he thinks COVID-19 will spread more quickly once the mask mandate is lifted.
"But our staff are going to keep wearing masks all the time," he said.
"We want to keep our workers, we don't want our workers going down with COVID-19 and having to shut our shop down because we just can't afford it."
'We are all sick and tired of it'
Mark Hanlon, chair of Business Port Pirie, which represents more than 100 businesses in the region, said there would no doubt be some apprehension about the rule changes.
"But all in all, they will also be excited that things are moving on and in a positive manner, which will be good for retail and hospitality," he said.
Mr Hanlon said the community had shown great adaptability during the pandemic.
"There is not one person who walks into our store that we have to give a mask to anymore, it has become part of their uniform," he said.
"It has kept us safe for quite a while, but having said that, we are all sick and tired of it."
Easter holidays 'a timely circuit breaker'
A decision on whether masks will be retained in schools will be made within weeks, before the upcoming school holidays reach their end.
Sandra Hewson, principal at St Mark's College in Port Pirie, said the mandates, along with student compliance, had contributed to keeping infection rates low at the school.
She said the school would continue to follow mandate instructions from SA Health, in conjunction with Catholic Education, which had not changed.
"I don't think I would go it alone as a principal and insist on staff and students wearing masks if that is not supported by SA Health and Catholic Education."
Dr Hewson said there had been a decline in attendance rates in the lead-up to Easter as families tried to protect their children from COVID-19 ahead fo the holidays.
"I think it is a very timely circuit breaker," she said.
"What we are noticing here is that absence rates have increased significantly, particularly for this week, and I think parents are deciding to withdraw children so that they are not at risk of exposure or infection, so as not to spoil any holiday plans coming up, which I do understand."
With Easter already here, we'll soon find out what the absence of masks will mean for both businesses and families.
