17 August 2021

There have been 17 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT in the past 24 hours.

There are now 45 active cases associated with this outbreak.

As of 9am this morning ACT Health continues to work with over 7,500 people who have self-identified as close contacts.

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

There was a record number of COVID-19 tests collected in the ACT yesterday.  3,757 tests were collected from ACT testing sites and 3,623 through our private testing providers, bringing our total to over 7,300 in the last 24 hours.

ACT Pathology, along with our private providers returned 6,369 negative test results in the 24 hours to 9am today.

Our vaccination efforts continue across the ACT with total vaccine doses administered to now at 173,763.

Additional close and casual contact exposure locations have been identified. 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.

We now have over 80 exposure locations listed for the ACT. ACT Health’s contact tracing team has carried out extraordinary work in identifying and verifying these locations.

This work is integral in assisting us to assess risk and take appropriate action to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Extension of ACT lockdown

The ACT lockdown will be extended for another 2 weeks until Thursday 2 September 2021.

There will be no major changes to the current restrictions at this time, but businesses will be asked to take reasonable steps to ensure that customers that are entering their premises are there for essential reasons only and are minimising their time in the community.

We will continue to review business and community support and will provide further advice in coming days.

ACT Policing will continue to enforce compliance with the health directions.

Thank you to all Canberrans who are following lockdown rules to keep the community safe – for staying at home, wearing a mask, quarantining, and getting tested if asked to do so – every precaution we take is helping us limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community.

Further information on lockdown requirements is on the ACT COVID-19 website.

Extension of support payments

With the ACT Government lockdown extended until Thursday 2 September, Canberrans unable to earn an income during the lockdown may still be able to access the Commonwealth Government’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment.

Payment amounts will vary from $200 to up to $750 depending on the hours of work lost during the lockdown and other eligibility criteria.

More information about the scheme and how to apply is available on the Services Australia website.

Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)

Three (3) of today’s new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were unknowingly infectious and had attended both the Bruce and Reid Campuses of the CIT.

ACT Health is working closely with CIT to communicate with students and staff in regards to these cases and a full list of exposure sites on these campuses can be found on the ACT COVID-19 website.

Testing update

A record day of testing in the ACT yesterday resulted in over 7,300 tests being collected via both public and private sites.

Sites at Brindabella Park, EPIC, Weston Creek and Kambah with an additional pop-up facility currently at Gold Creek, allow us to use these facilities to maximise our testing efforts and utilise particular locations for high-risk priority testing where necessary.

At this stage the Kambah site is being used for high-risk testing and is not yet opened to the general public.

Stay COVID safe

With the Delta strain of COVID-19 actively being transmitted, now is not the time to become complacent. The Delta strain of COVID-19 is dangerous and very easily transmitted.

Remember that during lockdown you should only be interacting with other people in your household. You should not have any family gatherings and do not have parties with friends.

If undertaking essential activity out in the community – wear a mask, maintain good hand hygiene, keep your distance and use the Check In CBR app.

Thank you to all Canberrans who are following lockdown rules to keep the community safe. It is critical we take every precaution during this time to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the ACT.