The territory, which remains locked down, will ease some public health restrictions from Friday, including allowing up to two people to visit homes.

Asked about the risk this poses for transmission of the virus in the home, Mr Barr said vaccination rates are very high and will provide a buffer against further spread.

"But yes, every easing of restriction is a risk, absolutely."

"Over the last several weeks ... there have been many people who have come into this room and thumped the table demanding that things be eased even earlier," Mr Barr said of questions asked by journalists attending daily press conferences.

"And I have always said that there is a balance of risks."

"This nation has torn itself apart over whether to open at 70 per cent, 80 per cent," Mr Barr said of the larger debate around the national plan and states own steps to reopen.

"We've got media outlets running agendas, it's been a vicious public debate: awful things have been said about public health officials about politicians.

"It's been the nastiest public debate I've experienced in my career in politics, worse than marriage equality, worse than voluntary assisted dying.

This has been incredibly hard on everyone, and emotions run very high, I understand all of that."

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Mr Barr said the ACT government strove to "balance public health outcomes, economic outcomes, mental health and well-being outcomes."

The territory's pathway forward was unveiled on Monday, after the Barr government faced criticism over a lack of detail provided to the public about its plans for the future.

So far, only outdoor interaction with others has been allowed, with groups of up to five people allowed to gather outside.

On Thursday, the ACT reported 31 new cases of COVID-19, with at least 17 cases in the community for part of their infectious period.

More significant easing of public health restrictions will take place on October 15 and October 29.

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