ACT Health, ACT Policing and the ACT Emergency Services Agency (ACTESA) have teamed up to remind Canberrans to stay COVID-safe as the weather warms up and the festive season begins.
Acting Chief Health Officer, Vanessa Johnston said people needed to ensure they remained COVID-safe as well as doing all the usual things needed to stay safe over summer.
“While this summer will carry the same risks as previous years – like extreme heat and the potential for impacted air quality – it will also be our first full summer and festive season with COVID-19,” Dr Johnston said.
“This is traditionally a very social time of year when people get together in groups to celebrate the holidays, the end of the year, or even just the warmer weather, and it’s important this year that people take a few extra precautions,” she said.
“Consider hosting your Christmas party or other celebration outside, or if inside increasing ventilation by opening doors and windows or using fans and cooling systems that bring in air from outside.”
Dr Johnston said people traditionally spent more time out and about, in shopping centres and cafes at this time of year and reminded Canberrans to take extra care when they were around other people.
“If somewhere looks too busy, consider coming back another time,” the A/g Chief Health Officer said.
“If you decide to stay, remember to physically distance from other groups whenever possible and practice all of your other COVID-safe behaviours, such as washing your hands, maintaining good respiratory hygiene and staying home if you’re unwell,” she said.
Dr Johnston said Canberrans who were travelling interstate during the holiday period should remember to follow the ABCs of COVID-safe behaviours; avoid COVID-affected areas; behave in a COVID-safe way; and check back when they’re home by monitoring the COVID website of the area they visited for two weeks to see if there had been any cases.
Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan said Canberrans needed to keep up-to-date with the latest information on COVID-19 and couldn’t afford to become complacent about following health directions.
Chief Ambulance Officer, Howard Wren said Canberrans should look after their health as the weather warmed up and be aware that heat-related stress could occur on normal summer days.
