The ACT has recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours 8pm Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
None of the cases were in quarantine for their entire infectious period and at least 11 were infectious in the community.
Seven cases have been linked to previous cases and the remainder are still under investigation.
Twelve patients are in hospital with COVID-19 and two of these are in intensive care on ventilation. Two are NSW residents.
One child under the age of 12 is in hospital, however they were not there because of the severity of the disease but because they didn't have appropriate care at home.
The ACT has recorded 674 cases during this outbreak and 463 cases have recovered. There are 211 active cases.
Deputy chief health officer Dr Vanessa Johnston said new medical centres were going to be listed as exposure sites today.
She said it was important for people to wear a mask correctly, check in and maintain social distancing when going out for essential reasons such as getting medical care and grocery shopping.
"Get tested immediately when you get symptoms," Dr Johnston said.
"Don't pop into the shops on the way home, don't go through the drive-through."
Chief Minister Andrew Barr refused reveal any details on a plan for easing lockdown restrictions before the next checkpoint on Friday, October 1.
Dr Johnston said she acknowledged the community wanted more specific information on the path out of lockdown but said more information would be released next week.
"Uncertainty has been hanging over our heads for 18 months and that's not necessarily going to be resolved with the roadmap or the pathway forward because Australia is in for a new experience, moving from elimination to community suppression," she said.
MORE COVID-19 NEWS:
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the health workforce was in a stronger position after it received more than 1500 applications in the recent recruitment drive.
Almost 600 applicants have started work and other 40 nurses will start this week. Fewer than 50 health staff are unable to work due to quarantine.
Ms Stephen-Smith said ACT health facilities had strong COVID management plans in place which include staff wearing face shields and masks, a high level of vaccination. People working on COVID wards are all fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, NSW has recorded 1063 new cases of COVID-19 and six deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm Wednesday.
There were two new COVID-19 cases reported in Southern NSW, bringing the total number to 91 since the start of the current outbreak in June.
Of the two new cases, one new case is in Goulburn and is linked to a known case.
Our coverage of the health and safety aspects of this outbreak of COVID-19 in the ACT and the lockdown is free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. You can also sign up for our newsletters for regular updates.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram