ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr will soon discuss how Canberra will emerge out of COVID-19 lockdown as the Territory eases its stay-at-home orders later this week.
Canberra’s lockdown will end on October 15, allowing cafes, bars, restaurants and gyms to re-open. Likewise, the end of the lockdown will also allow locals to have up to five visitors in their homes.
Although the ACT’s road map out of lockdown has already been unveiled, Minister Barr said its details would be announced on Tuesday ahead of the reopening.
An announcement was also expected later this week on travel arrangements between ACT and NSW once Canberra ends its lockdown.
“I also hope by probably Wednesday or Thursday to have confirmation from NSW as to how they regard the ACT in terms of their own COVID arrangements,” Minister Barr said.
However, Canberrans can still face heavy fines for crossing the border for the next few days for non-essential reasons.
The easing of travel restrictions between the two jurisdictions is in line with NSW allowing freedoms to the unvaccinated in December.
“Travel will change this Friday and further at the end of October and then in December when NSW drop their vaccinated versus unvaccinated status,” Minister Barr said.
There will also be further changes on how ACT health authorities will report COVID-19 cases and exposure sites, which will be outlined shortly. This goes for those who would need to quarantine should they come into contact with the virus.
As the reopening of the Territory will take place, there would be less emphasis on case numbers and more on vaccine figures.
“The disease is endemic in our community and there will be hundreds of cases, but vaccines prevent serious illnesses,” Minister Barr said.
“If you are carrying the virus and you are a case then you will still have to quarantine, but there will certainly be changes around casual contact settings.”
The ACT recorded 32 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, 25 of those being linked to known cases.
There are 18 people in hospital with the virus, seven of those being in intensive care and six on a ventilator.
The ACT on Monday also became the first jurisdiction in the country to record 70 per cent of its residents aged over 12 being fully vaccinated.
There is now 71.1 per cent of over-12s having both doses while 97.8 per cent have had one dose.
Minister Barr said Canberra was on track to become one of the most vaccinated cities in the world.
With AAP