Health authorities have urged Canberrans to remain COVID-safe during New Year's Eve celebrations as more coronavirus cases are recorded in NSW and Victoria.
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But the ACT hasn't moved to tighten restrictions on celebrations.
NSW recorded 10 locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, and Victoria has recorded six cases in the past two days.
It has prompted the premiers of both states to tighten gathering limits for New Year's Eve.
People in Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and the Central Coast can only have five visitors to their home.
Victoria has reduced the number of people allowed to gather in a home from 30 to 15 people.
The ACT has no limits on household visitors but the territory's chief health officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman, has asked Canberrans to remain cautious over the period.
"Similar to Christmas, we know that New Year's Eve is a time of increased social activity, when the community go out and about to meet friends, or host gatherings at their home in the countdown to 2021," Dr Coleman said.
"While there are many people who will be looking to celebrate the back of 2020 with family and friends, COVID-19 has not gone away and we still need to ensure we celebrate the New Year in a COVID-safe way."
It comes as the ACT went another day without recording a COVID-19 case. The territory has recorded a total of 118 cases since the pandemic begun and there is currently only one active case in the ACT - a Commonwealth official who returned overseas and is in hotel quarantine.
The ACT will keep travel restrictions for Greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and Blue Mountains in place for at least another week, until at least January 6.
Residents of the ACT who have been to these places are required to quarantine for 14 days and non-ACT residents who have been in these places should not travel to the territory.
For those who are hosting people for New Year's Eve celebrations at home, ACT Health has provided the following advice:
- Do not host guests who have been to Greater Sydney, Central Coast or Wollongong since 11.59pm, Sunday December 20.
- Consider hosting your event outside as evidence has shown that outdoor spaces present a lower risk of transmission of COVID-19 compared with indoor spaces, due to better ventilation and air circulation. If it's not possible to host outdoors, then consider increasing natural ventilation by opening windows and doors, use fans or other cooling systems that bring outside air inside.
- Make sure to clean down high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, switches, taps and water pitchers, and think about disposable paper towels in the bathroom for your party instead of sharing the same hand towel.
- Take note of the names and contact numbers of everyone attending your gathering.
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ACT Health said Canberrans who were unwell should skip New Year's Eve celebrations.
For those celebrating at a restaurant, bar or public event, ACT Health has urged physical distancing wherever possible, hand washing and good respiratory hygiene.
As well, ACT Health said to make sure you logged your details with venues for contact tracing purposes.
Businesses and venues are required to abide by the one-person-per-two-squares-metre rule and dancing is limited to some nightclubs. Police will be patrolling venues to ensure compliance.
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Lucy Bladen
Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au
Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au
