The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have released an update on the Territory’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT had managed the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic exceptionally well.
“Having no active COVID-19 cases in the ACT at the start of May is a scenario that has exceeded expectations,” Mr Barr said.
“It is a reflection of our community’s dedication to physical distancing, as well as the hard work of the many health professionals that have spent the past six weeks testing patients and contact tracing,” he said.
“However, the reality we must still accept is that it’s not over yet.”
Mr Barr said that until there was a vaccine, there was still a risk the Territory may return to an unsustainable daily increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
“The essential public health measures in place over the past four weeks have placed a strain on the wellbeing of many Canberrans,” he said.
“We need to ensure that, as we respond to the pandemic, restrictions have to be sustainable in the long term.”
He said restrictions had been eased, allowing Canberrans to leave their houses for non-essential shopping purposes.
He said restrictions on gatherings inside homes had also been relaxed to allow families to visit each other with two adults plus children now able to visit.
Mr Barr said further information on business activity restrictions was expected on Friday (8 May) after the next National Cabinet meeting.
