Canberra's lockdown extended until October 15 as ACT records 22 new COVID-19 cases - ABC News

The ACT's lockdown has been extended for another four weeks until October 15, Chief Minister Andrew Barr has confirmed. 

Key points:

• The ACT has recorded 22 new COVID-19 cases
• There will be a phased return to face-to-face learning, beginning with year 12 students at the start of term 4 
• The ACT has been in lockdown since August 12 

The extension of the lockdown comes as the territory records 22 new COVID-19 cases.

Of the new cases, at least 13 were infectious in the community, with only two in quarantine for their entire infectious period. 

There are 10 people in hospital, with two in intensive care and one person requiring ventilation.

The ACT has been in lockdown since August 12.

The territory originally entered a seven-day lockdown, but an extension saw that end date pushed to this Friday, September 17.

The ACT is now set to exit lockdown at 11:59pm on Friday, October 15, 2021.

Decision to extend lockdown due to new cases in ACT, surrounding NSW

Andrew Barr says high vaccination rates will be a way to move out of lockdown.(

ABC News: Ian Cutmore

)

Mr Barr said the decision to extend the lockdown was made as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the territory and surrounding New South Wales area.

"This next month is a period of uncertainty, and the next few weeks will be challenging," Mr Barr said.

"What we are certain of though, is a highly vaccinated Canberra is a safer Canberra. This is the safest path forward, and it will lead to a safer Christmas, a safer summer holiday period and a safer 2022.

"The positive news for the ACT is that we have such a strong vaccination take up."

Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said that a lockdown extension was not what the ACT government wanted to do, but it was necessary due to ongoing COVID-19 spread.

Dr Coleman said some of the ACT's total cases were still unable to be linked to ongoing clusters in the ACT, which was of concern to health authorities.

"It is important to note that approximately 50 cases, we do not know the contact or source of infection," she said.

"And concerningly, around half – about 28 of these cases – have been notified in the past two weeks."

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman says COVID-19 has been reintroduced into the territory in the past few days.(

ABC News: Ian Cutmore

)

Dr Coleman said there had been eight separate introductions of the Delta strain into the ACT since the outbreak began.

"Some of these are the result of individuals with exemptions coming in, doing the right thing and abiding by our necessary quarantine requirements," she said.

"But half have led to transmission within our community. With two of these only occurring in the last 48 hours."

Year 12 students to return to campus at start of term four

Mr Barr said further announcements would be made in the coming days for crisis response funding in areas such as mental health.

But he said from the start of term four — October 5 — year 12 students would be able to return to classrooms.

Year 11 students are expected to return to on-campus learning from Monday, October 18, provided the COVID-19 situation across the territory did not deteriorate, Mr Barr confirmed. 

But Mr Barr said for the first few weeks of term four, ACT students from preschool to year 10 would continue remote learning, before a phased return to schooling across other age groups.

"Our goal is to get kids back to face-to-face learning as soon as it is COVID-safe to do so and we will continue planning for the phased return to on-campus learning," he said.

More to come. 

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA5LTE0L2FjdC1yZWNvcmRzLTIyLWNvdmlkLWNhc2VzLWxvY2tkb3duLWV4dGVuZGVkLW9jdG9iZXItMTUvMTAwNDU5NTY40gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDQ1OTU2OA?oc=5

2021-09-14 02:15:00Z
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