A Public Health Emergency has been declared in the ACT to combat coronavirus (COVID-19). This provides the Chief Health Officer with additional powers to do whatever is necessary to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and reduce its risk to the health of Canberrans.
In making the Public Health Emergency Directions, the Chief Health Officer has considered the impact on Human Rights (PDF 179KB) | (Word 39KB).
For more information see the signed directions from the Chief Health Officer in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Directions (table below). The ACT Government has also established a compliance and enforcement framework which is summarised here: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Directions - Compliance and enforcement framework for the issue of infringement notices (PDF).
For information about new directions in NSW, please visit the NSW Legislation website.
You can also find information about what you can and can’t do in NSW on the NSW Government’s COVID-19 website.
The Chief Health Officer has also signed a standing exemption for residents of the surrounding NSW region to enable individuals to enter the ACT for essential purposes only when COVID affected area requirements are in place in regional NSW.
Name | Status | Type | Under | Effective | Year and No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health (Restricted Activities) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 2) | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 11:59pm on 21 October 2021 until Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-617 |
Public Health (Emergency) Declaration 2020 (No 1) Public Health (Emergency) Declaration Further Extension 2021 (No 3) | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 119 | From 16 March 2020 until Public Health Emergency Declaration ends. Extended for 90 days from 16 August 2021 (until 14 November 2021) | NI2020-153 NI2021-296 |
Public Health (Returned Travellers) Emergency Direction 2021 | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 11.59pm on 24 December 2020 until Public Emergency ends. | NI2020-339 |
Public Health (Diagnosed People and Close Contacts) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 4) | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 4:00pm on 15 October 2021 until Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-612 |
| Public Health (Health Care and Support Workers COVID-19 Vaccination) Emergency Direction 2021 | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 11:59 pm on 15 October 2021 until the Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-613 |
| Public Health (Aged Care Workers and Visitors COVID-19 Vaccination) Emergency Direction 2021 | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 11:59 pm on 15 October 2021 until the Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-614 |
Public Health (Residential Aged Care Facilities) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 4) | Revoked | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 11.59pm on 7 February 2021 until 13 August 2021. | NI2021-344 |
| In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 11:59pm on 22 January 2021 until Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-401 | |
Public Health (Restricted Activities - Gatherings, Business or Undertakings) - Attachment C Public Health (Restricted Activities - Gatherings, Business or Undertakings) - Attachment D | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 9am on 14 April 2021 until the Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-405 |
Public Health (COVID-19 Affected Areas) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 10)
| In Force | Notifiable instruments | s 120 | From 6pm on 11 June 2021 until the Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-424 |
| Public Health (Check In Requirements) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 2) | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s120 | From 11.59pm on 1 July 2021 until the Public Emergency ends. | NI2021-437 |
Public Health (ACT School or Early Childhood Education and Care Workers COVID-19 Vaccination) Emergency Direction 2021 | In Force | Notifiable instruments | s120 | From 11.59pm on 19 October 2021 until 31 December 2021 | NI2021-615 |
