01 January 2021

There were two (2) new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT in the past 24 hours.

There are now nine (9) active cases associated with this outbreak.

As of 9am this morning, ACT Health continues to work with up to 5,742 people who have self-identified as close contacts.

There are currently no COVID-19 patients in Canberra hospitals.

There were 3,305 COVID-19 tests collected from ACT testing sites and over 2638 through our private testing providers, bringing our total to just under 6,000 in the last 24 hours. ACT Pathology returned 3,292 negative testresults in the 24 hours to 9am today.

There were 2,213 vaccinations administered in ACT Government clinics in the 24 hours to 9am, bringing the total vaccine doses administered to 169,545.

Testing

ACT Health continues to work on increasing capacity and support for COVID-19 testing. ESA and SES staff and volunteers will continue to provide logistical support to those waiting to be tested and from tomorrow, 16 additional clinical and support personnel from the Department of Defence will be deployed to ACT testing sites to assist.

There are now more than 40 close and casual contact exposure locations identified in the ACT. We ask Canberrans to please continue to check the ACT COVID-19 website regularly as the list of locations is updated as our investigations continue.

If you have been to a COVID-19 close or casual exposure location at the specific time, it’s important you complete our online ACT Contact Declaration Form.

When you complete the form, it means we can get in touch with you to confirm if you are a contact, and let you know what you need to do. However, please don’t wait to hear from us to get tested if you are required to under the public health advice.

Enforcement

ACT Policing continue to conduct compliance checks to assist in enforcing the public health directions. Please make sure you are only leaving home for essential reasons and wear a mask when out in public.

ACT Policing are also working with NSW Police to enforce border restrictions and remind people that you can be stopped anywhere at any time. Information for our residents of border communities and those needing to cross the border for essential reasons is available on the ACT COVID-19 website. For information on the recent restrictions implemented by NSW please visit the NSW COVID-19 website.

To support our essential workers there will be a temporary pause from tomorrow (Monday 16 August) on paid parking in ACT Government owned car parks for the duration of the ACT lockdown.

This is a city-wide pause and includes parking near our hospitals and healthcare facilities within the CBD (including Braddon) and within town and group centres.

Canberrans should still only be travelling for essential reasons but this temporary pause on pay parking will support our health sector and essential businesses during this challenging time.

Access Canberra will continue to enforce safety related matters including mobility parking spaces, loading zones, no stopping and no parking areas. Time limits on parking spaces will also still apply.

Support Services

We understand that this is an unsettling time and encourage you to use the range of support services available. For more information visit www.covid19.act.gov.au.

Free food and essential items are available to Canberrans in significant need during this seven-day lockdown. Our emergency food relief response went live at 9am yesterday and we experienced a high demand for this service.

If you need support, call VolunteeringACT on 1800 43 11 33 between 9am and 5pm any day during this 7-day lockdown to request a shopping order be placed on your behalf. This will be collected by the ACT Emergency Services Agency and delivered to your door.

Please continue to stay COVID safe and keep up to date as the situation evolves via the ACT COVID-19 website.

*ACT COVID-19 case figures are reported daily from a point in time and are subject to change.