Canberrans can flock to the shops today (21 October) following the vaccination of 80 per cent of people over the age of 12.
Announcing the change, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the Territory was the first jurisdiction in Australia to hit the 80 per cent milestone and was well on the way to having close to 99 per cent of the eligible population fully vaccinated by the end of November.
Mr Barr said the high vaccination rate meant the recommencement of non-essential retail, under a one person per four square metres rule (1 per 4sqm), was able to be brought forward.
“ACT businesses providing essential retail under a click and collect or click and deliver models can also reopen their doors from this Friday at 1 per 4sqm,” Mr Barr said.
“With high vaccination rates and stable average case numbers over the last couple of weeks, the Government will further ease restrictions from the 29 October.
“This includes the relaxation of capacity limits across a number of different industries, including hospitality and major events.”
Mr Barr said that from 29 October, food courts in the ACT would also be able to reopen under a one person per 4sqm model and face masks would no longer be mandatory outdoors.
The Chief Minister said the ACT also planned to remove the COVID-Affected Area declaration across NSW from 1 November, though this is to be subject to the public health risk at the time.
“This means that ACT residents will not have quarantine when they return to the Territory from any part of NSW – including Greater Sydney,” he said.
“The ACT Government will also align our mandatory quarantine requirements for people arriving from overseas with NSW from 1 November.”
Mr Barr said work was continuing on the implementation of baseline level public health safety measures for late November-early December, including the implementation of one person per 2sqm density limits in hospitality settings.
