?Everything is postponed?: Australians facing Covid isolation over Christmas

Many Australians could end up spending the festive holiday period alone in isolation after being exposed to a Covid case even as governments resist shutting borders and insist Christmas won't be cancelled.

Overworked health systems are struggling to cope up with new outbreaks and some state and territory governments have moved to tighten mask mandates and social distancing restrictions.

Adelaide man Geoff Goodfellow, 72, says at least three generations of his family will be spending Christmas in quarantine.

Goodfellow was exposed to coronavirus during a dinner to celebrate his son's 50th birthday at Arkhe - a new restaurant in Adelaide - where his granddaughter works.

He said his granddaughter had no idea she had been exposed and infected when she greeted the family with a hug and a kiss before serving them their meals.

Two days later she called to say South Australia Health had declared the restaurant an exposure site and she was one of a handful of workers to test positive.

Several family members - including an emergency department nurse - had to isolate and endure long waits at testing sites.