The Easter holidays usually see the population of Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula swell, with tourists and shack owners making the most of the autumn weather.

It is a bitter irony that after #bookthemout campaign to attract visitors in the wake of the bushfire summer, there is now a call for visitors to stay away.

Wineries and cellar doors have been added to the list of business that must close to the public, which will affect the McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek regions.

The latest government restrictions to slow the spread of Covid-19 limit public gatherings to no more than two people except for immediate family members.

Police will patrol to enforce these limits.

All events and activities planned for the Easter holidays have been cancelled and people have been advised to leave their homes only for essential reasons, such as shopping, medical appointments, work or education.

Federal MP Rebekha Sharkie and state MPs David Basham and Leon Bignell, whose electorates cover the Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island, have led the call to stay away during the Covid-19 crisis.

Rebekha Sharkie says the south coast has the highest median age in SA and is considered one of the localities at highest risk from the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

"My message to non-residents is 'if you love the South Coast, stay away'. That means no holidays and no day trips.

She says the south coast has a very high proportion of elderly people, who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus.

"It is understandable that these communities are feeling deeply concerned about being inundated with visitors during the usual peak tourist time of Easter school holidays.

"Unlike Kangaroo Island where the community is also alarmed about being inundated with visitors over the holidays, the Fleurieu doesn't have a moat in the form of Backstairs Passage to restrict travel.

"Thanks to the advocacy of myself and other community leaders, Premier Steven Marshall has contacted the Sealink ferry company to direct them to postpone travel for anyone who is not a local resident or personnel involved in essential services.

"It's not so easy to restrict travel on the Fleurieu so I call on the South Australian public to do the right thing, the safe thing, and stay home these holidays.”

Leon Bignell says the travel restriction will help not just Kangaroo Island residents but also the people of Port Willunga, Aldinga, Sellicks, McLaren Vale, Willunga, Myponga, Yankalilla, Normanville and other parts of the electorate. 

“With most of us bunkered down in our own homes it will have very little impact. But if people continue to move around then the risk of spreading the Coronavirus increases. The virus itself doesn’t travel. Humans who carry it travel.”