ACT COVID-19 Update - 27 September 2021

There have been 19 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the ACT in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday.

Of these cases, 17 are linked to known cases or ongoing clusters. Seven (7) cases were in quarantine during their infectious period, eight (8) spent varying degrees of time in the community while infectious and four (4) remain under early investigation.

Sadly, ACT Health has been notified of the death of a man in his 90s with COVID-19.

The man had been receiving end of life care at the Calvary Haydon Aged Care Facility prior to being diagnosed with COVID-19.

This is the first death where COVID-19 is a contributing factor in this current outbreak and brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in the ACT to four (4) since the start of the pandemic.

ACT Health extends its sincere condolences to the person’s loved ones and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time.

There are now 513 cases who have recovered with 3 in the past 24 hours. This means there are now 255 active cases associated with this outbreak.

As of 9am this morning ACT Health continues to work with over 1,000 people who have self-identified as close contacts of ACT outbreaks.

There are currently eight (8) patients in ACT hospitals, including three (3) in intensive care requiring ventilation.

More than 3,800 tests were collected across the ACT yesterday, from both Government and private providers. There were 4,906 negative test results in the 24 hours to 9am today.

Our vaccination efforts continue across the ACT with total vaccine doses administered at ACT Government Clinics now at 303,126.

We have over 470 current exposure locations listed for the ACT. Canberrans are asked to keep up to date on new locations on the ACT COVID-19 website.

Release of pathway forward for the ACT

Today the ACT Government has released further details on the ACT pathway forward.

As has been the Government’s approach throughout the pandemic, the pathway will be a gradual and careful easing of social and business restrictions as the ACT increases its overall vaccination coverage. This stepwise approach will allow time for us to monitor the effect of changes on case numbers and provide an ability to adjust measures where required as we move through our plan.

The current lockdown will be lifted from 15 October, when we expect our community will have reached 80% full vaccination and the nation is expected to reach 70%.

The end of the ACT’s lockdown will see the stay-at-home requirements lifted and the phased return to school. It will also see a number of other changes to social and business restrictions.

The pathway outlines timeframes for when the ACT Government will consider easing restrictions further depending on the public health advice, epidemiological situation at the time and the capacity of the health system. We will also take into account the COVID-19 situation in our surrounding NSW region.

In addition, the pathway outlines some amendments to the Public Health Directions that will come into effect from 12.01am this Friday (1 October). These include:

• Home and Visitors
  • Two people able to visit another household at any one time, for any reason. If visiting a household for childcare purposes, more than two children can visit.
  • One household, or up to five people, able to gather outdoors for exercise or non-organised recreation for up to four hours.

• Retail
  • Non-essential retail businesses permitted to operate click and collect or click and deliver services with no more than five people in the business at any one time, or one person per four square metres, whichever is less.

• Fitness, Sport and Outdoor physical recreation and campgrounds
  • The recommencement of outdoor bootcamps and personal training, with no more than two people, excluding instructors.
  • The recommencement of outdoor and contactless coaching activities with no more than two people, excluding the coach.
  • The reopening of nature reserves and National Parks for recreational purposes.

• Healthcare
  • The recommencement of preventative dental services.

At this time, masks will continue to be required at all times upon leaving home, including in workplaces, if you are aged 12 years and over.

Further information is on the ACT COVID-19 website.

Stay COVID-19 safe

We remind Canberrans that we are still in lockdown and that now is not the time to become complacent.

This means minimising your time in the community and only leaving your home for the approved reasons.

Where possible, you should also continue to undertake essential activities within your local region.