The ACT has implemented a COVID-19 Management Declaration Framework (the Framework) under Part 6C of the Public Health Act 1997 to help manage the public health risks of COVID-19.
This means moving away from wide-spread Public Health Emergency settings. Instead, the ACT Government has implemented the Framework to allow targeted public health measures to be put in place to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission to Canberrans, particularly if they are at higher risk of severe disease.
The Framework allows the following types of Directions to be issued:
- ACT Chief Health Officer Directions – these can be implemented by the ACT Chief Health Officer to require that COVID-19 testing occur and certain groups of people (e.g., COVID-19 diagnosed persons and household contacts) quarantine or isolate for certain periods of time.
- Ministerial Directions – these can be implemented by the Minister for Health to require that certain public health social measures be met (e.g., preventing or limiting entry into the ACT, regulating high-risk activities, and requiring that personal protective equipment like face masks be worn in certain circumstances).
- Vaccination Directions – these can be implemented by the Executive (i.e., the Chief Minister and the Minister for Health) to require that certain groups of people be vaccinated against COVID-19.
See current restrictions to view the current restrictions in place in the ACT.
The Framework was introduced by the ACT Government on 30 September 2022 to manage the ongoing risks presented by COVID-19.
The Framework can initially remain in place for 90 days until 29 December 2022 and be extended for up to 90 days at a time.
ACT Chief Health Officer Advice
While in place, the ACT Chief Health Officer must provide advice to the ACT Government every 30 days on the status of the COVID-19 situation in the ACT. This advice is used to make sure the Framework and any Directions that are introduced remain appropriate and proportionate to managing COVID-19 risks.
ACT Chief Health Officer advice is published below, within 7 days of providing the advice.
Chief Health Officer Advice - COVID-19 Management Declaration
Declaration Instrument
Name | Type | Under | Effective | Year and No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Disallowable instrument | s 118O | 30 September 2022 - 29 December 2022 | DI2022-224 |
Under a COVID-19 Management Declaration Framework, the Chief Health Officer can continue to implement the test, trace, isolate and quarantine measures that have formed an essential part of the coordinated ACT COVID-19 response throughout the pandemic.
The Chief Health Officer Direction can remain in place until 29 December 2022 and may be extended for up to 90 days at a time in line with any extension of the COVID-19 Management Declaration.
ACT Chief Health Officer Directions
As at 14 October 2022, the Chief Health Officer Directions requires that people who test positive to COVID-19 using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), register their positive RAT result with ACT Health.
See Public Health (ACT Chief Health Officer) COVID-19 Management Direction (No. 1) for more information.
Declaration Instrument
Name | Type | Under | Effective | Year and No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Notifiable instrument | s 118U and s 118ZD | 30 September 2022 - 29 December 2022 | NI2022-483 | |
Public Health (Chief Health Officer) COVID-19 Management Direction 2022 (No 1) | Notifiable instrument | s 118U and s 118ZD | 14 October 2022 – 29 December 2022 | NI2022-512 |
Human Rights Compatibility Statement
When issuing or extending a direction, the Chief Health Officer must give public notice about how the direction is consistent with human rights.
A link to the Direction’s human rights compatibility statement is provided in the Human Rights Compatibility Statement - Public Health (ACT Chief Health Officer) COVID-19 Management Direction 2022 (No. 1)
Under the COVID-19 Management Framework, the Minister for Health may make directions that:
- prevent or limit entry into the ACT, or an area in the ACT e.g., border controls, or restricting entry to high-risk settings if you are COVID-19 positive or a household contact
- regulate public or private gatherings, businesses, activities, or undertakings e.g., implementing density or capacity restrictions for an event, business, or venue
- require the use of personal protective equipment, e.g., facemasks
- require the provision of information or the production or keeping of documents e.g., COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
The Ministerial Direction can remain in force until the 29 December 2022 and may be extended for up to 90 days at a time.
ACT Chief Health Officer Advice
When a Ministerial Direction is in place, the Chief Health Officer must provide advice to the Minister for Health every 30 days about whether the direction remains justified. The Minister for Health must consider the advice of the Chief Health Officer.
Chief Health Officer advice is published below within 7 days of providing the advice.
Ministerial Directions
As at 14 October 2022, the Ministerial Direction:
- requires that face masks be worn by persons aged 12 years and older, when:
- visiting or working in a high-risk setting, or
- providing disability services to support people living with disability.
Declaration Instrument
Name | Type | Under | Effective | Year and No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Revoked - Public Health (Ministerial) COVID-19 Management Direction and Exemption 2022 (No 1) | Notifiable instrument | s 118R and s 118ZD | 30 September 2022 - 29 December 2022 | NI2022-478 |
Public Health (Ministerial) COVID-19 Management Direction and Exemption 2022 (No 2) | Notifiable instrument | S 118R and s118ZD | 14 October 2022 – 29 December 2022 | NI-2022-510 |
Human Rights Compatibility Statement
When issuing or extending a Direction, the Minister for Health must give public notice about how the Direction is compatible with human rights.
A link to the Direction’s human rights compatibility statement is provided below:
The Chief Minister and the Minister for Health may act jointly to make a Direction to require that workers in certain settings meet COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
There are currently no Vaccination Directions in place.
Please see the Vaccinations webpage to find out about the benefits of vaccination and why it is important to make sure you remain vaccinated against COVID-19.
People affected by these Directions may be able to apply for an exemption on medical, compassionate or other grounds.
See exemptions for more information.
