It comes as the ACT reported another 17 cases on Tuesday, taking the total to 45.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the ACT would strengthen its compliance around essential businesses, where operators had been trying to move customers on.

Updated public health directions would require businesses to take all reasonable steps to ensure customers get what they need and leave promptly.

Mr Barr said ACT police would actively enforce the new requirements.

"If you need to go to the hardware store, get in and get out quickly. And most people shouldn't need to go to the hardware store today or tomorrow or the rest of this week. Please stay at home," Mr Barr said.

Chief police officer Neil Gaughan said people found to be blatantly ignoring the the public health directions would be fined.

"I think again with the issue around particularly hardware stores and the like, it's actually the retailers that have been asking us to actually provide them with more clarity," Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said.

Deputy Commissioner Gaughan said he was confident ACT Policing had the resources it needed to enforce the rules, despite a number of officers now in quarantine.

"I've had communications with the [Australian Federal Police] Commissioner Reece Kershaw in relation to supplementing our resources if necessary," he said.

Police issued three fines for public health breaches on Monday, and made 340 compliance checks and more than 600 traffic stops.

Mr Barr said the ACT government was developing transition plans for some industries, but construction would remain a prohibited activity.

"We are reviewing our public health measures every single day and when it is safe to make changes, we will. But today is not that day. We are working on Covid safe transition plans for the construction industry and for other businesses," he said.

Mr Barr said a 5 kilometre travel restriction for individuals was still a potential measure the ACT could introduce.

"But we don't believe it's necessary today. The issue that we're particularly focusing on is around too many people gathering too close to each other in a couple of retail settings," he said.

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Mr Barr flagged the changes in a press conference on Monday, but said the government would need to consult with industry before announcing them.

On Monday, Mr Barr ruled out introducing a curfew.

The Chief Minister had instead implored Canberrans to stay home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

"Lockdowns are a proven measure to suppress chains of transmission of the virus. They have worked elsewhere in Australia and overseas, and if we do the right thing, it will work here in Canberra," he said.

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