The Territory’s public health restrictions have been extended for a further month, until 25 February, due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19.
Announcing the extension, Chief Minister Andrew Barr started by saying Canberra’s hospitality and licensed businesses would need to continue ensuring that patrons were seated while eating and drinking, especially since “dancing at these venues is not permitted”.
Mr Barr declared mandatory face masks, density limits and other public health measures for were also in place for businesses and indoor venues.
“The extension of these measures is a sensible step to mitigate virus transmission during a period on increased activity,” Mr Barr said.
“We’re anticipating much more movement across the community over the coming weeks as Canberrans go back to work and schools reopen,” he said.
“The recommendation for people to continue to work from home, where it suits them and their employer, will help to mitigate the risk of widespread workplace transmission, while recognising that some employees need to return to the workplace to meet their business needs or for their own wellbeing.”
Mr Barr said a review of the restrictions would take place in two weeks to assess whether the measures were still necessary.
“We’ll use the next two weeks to closely monitor the situation, particularly around what a return to school and many of our regular routines means for case numbers,” he said.
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said it was critical that people were tested if they had any COVID-19 symptoms, were household contacts or were at high or moderate risk of contracting COVID-19.
“While our testing clinics experienced significant pressure earlier in the month, this has now eased and there’s plenty of capacity once again at the ACT Government’s testing clinics,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“All clinics now have adequate supplies to conduct PCR tests and the turnaround times for results are now down to between 24 to 48 hours,” she said.
