AUTHOR: ALLY VOYLES
LIVE UPDATES
12:43
SUMMARY OF PRESS CONFERENCE
Canberrans may leave their house for essentials, and may leave for one hour of exercise per day. If this exercise is particularly vigorous, you do not need to wear a mask. In any other circumstance, masks are required. All general services will be take away only. Canberrans are encouraged to stay in their local area as much as possible, meaning those living in Gungahlin should stay in Gungahlin. “We have one opportunity to stamp this out,” says Andrew Barr, Chief Minister.
The venues in that have been exposed COVID-19 can be found at this link: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/act-status-and-response/act-covid-19-exposure-locations. If you have been at any of these locations, you are required to get tested and quarantine for fourteen days, even if the test comes back negative. Canberrans are told not to get tested if they are “just anxious.”
If you live outside of Canberra and need to enter, there is a list of postcodes that have permission to enter the ACT the ACT Health website. If you do come to Canberra from outside, please ensure you have proof of residency.
The COVID-19 case is most likely that of the Delta Variant.
11:47 am
Masks will be mandatory for everyone in the ACT. All students currently at school will stay until 3:20.
There have been reports of panic buyers emptying shelves of toilet paper once again, reminding us of the “everything shortage” of last year. A reminder to everyone: essential retail, including grocery stores, will remain open during lockdown.
As of now, Senior Council elections will be unaffected, but further updates to come from Ms. Jorritsma in an email following the press conference from ACT Health.
As of now, 27% of Canberrans are fully vaccinated, and 52% have had at least one dose of the vaccine.
11:39 am
The ACT will go into lockdown for seven days effective at 5:00 pm. The Chief Minister’s office has confirmed that the case was infectious in the community, but the source is not known. The statement called the case “the most serious public health risk” that Canberra has faced in a year, since the last outbreak.
There will be a new testing clinic set up in Brindabella Business Park, in Majura Park. Health officials have warned of an increased demand for testing in the coming days in light of the new case.
11:23 am
Canberra’s first COVID-19 case in over a year was reported at 10:45 am this morning.
ACT Health will provide further updates, and there will be a press conference at 12:15 pm. It is expected that there will be information regarding online learning.
Discussions of a snap lockdown are in process, and there is currently an emergency cabinet meeting in progress to plan out next steps.
During the first phase of the potential snap lockdown, ACT residents would be under stay-at-home orders. Lockdown would not go into effect until this evening.
Stay safe 🙁