80 people in isolation in ACT linked to Batemans Bay Soldiers Club cluster

A public health direction came into force on Monday, legally requiring anyone in the ACT who had attended the Soldiers Club on Monday, July 13, Wednesday, July 15 to Friday, July 17, to self-isolate for 14 days.

Eight cases of COVID-19 are linked to the south coast club and contract tracers are working to find the source of the outbreak.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on Monday advised Canberrans to reconsider travel to NSW.

"At this point in time ... really proceed with caution and only travel if it's necessary," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

"While NSW is doing a great job with their contact tracing, we don't want to increase the risk of Canberrans travelling into NSW ... where there may be community transmission that we're just not aware of at the moment.

"I would encourage Canberrans at the moment to maybe put your travel plans on hold unless you really need to travel ... just for the moment while we get a better idea of what is going on in NSW.

ACT chief health officer Kerryn Coleman urged anyone who had visited the club on those dates to contact ACT Health.

She recommended those people get tested for COVID-19 but said they were required to isolate for 14-days even if they received a negative test result.

"Anyone who was not at the club but holidaying in Batemans Bay is asked to be vigilant with their health and to get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild.

There are three active cases of coronavirus in the ACT, all linked to the Melbourne outbreak. Two cases also linked to Melbourne have recovered.

There have been 219 negative test results received in the past 24 hours and 42,610 have been conducted in the ACT so far.

"We are in a strong position in the ACT at the moment but we all need to work together as a community to ensure it stays that way," Dr Coleman said.

"The situation is rapidly evolving so it is important any Canberrans who have been travelling in New South Wales recently to monitor the latest NSW Health advice.

"Even for those people who have stayed in the ACT during this holiday period, I remind you to stay vigilant, practice physical distancing and good hygiene practices, and get tested if you have any symptoms."