Canberra schools will stay open and restrictions are set to ease despite a growing number of COVID-19 infections in school communities.
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The ACT government is expected to announce it will fast track its plan to ease restrictions up to three weeks earlier than expected following a meeting of the territory's emergency cabinet with chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman on Monday afternoon.
The next stage of restrictions, which was outlined last month, would remove the limit on home visitors and outdoor gatherings, and ease density limits in most businesses and shops to allow one person for every two square metres.
Mask wearing requirements could also be relaxed, with face coverings expected to be required only in high-risk settings.
Ticketed outdoor events for up to 1000 people would also be permitted under the next stage of easing, which was originally slated for November 26.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr indicated at the weekend Canberra's high vaccination rate, which is on track to reach beyond 99 per cent full vaccination of the eligible population later this month, would help the ACT ease restrictions sooner.
Mr Barr is expected to make an announcement on Tuesday, alongside an update out the outbreak from Dr Coleman.
Schools will continue operating under their COVID regulations as the number of sites dealing with cases expanded to 15 on Monday.
Meanwhile, the number of cases associated with the Wanniassa School junior campus climbed to 43.
Education Minister Yvette Berry could not say how many students were in quarantine as a result of the exposures in schools, however she said the current health guidelines were working.
"I don't think there's any suggestion that we need to change the processes that we've put in place already," Ms Berry said.
"We've only been in this place for a week where our schools have been open and our community's been more open so I think we just need to keep going with what we've been doing so far."
The ACT government is considering using rapid antigen testing in schools after Victoria and NSW introduced the tests and Doherty Institute modelling showed how they can be used to keep more students in school.
On Monday it was revealed that a fully-vaccinated boarding student at Canberra Girls Grammar was infectious on campus for six days.
The case has forced all boarding school students to quarantine in their rooms while the entire year 10 cohort has also been directed to quarantine at home for seven days if they are fully vaccinated.
Canberra Girls Grammar principal Anna Owen said it was necessary to close for one day to do cleaning and contact tracing.
"We have that added complexity of a residential component brought on by the boarding house and so we just had to make sure that we're really thorough with our processes," she said.
"We were able to complete all of our testing and all of our communication with ACT health and 24 hours, at the end of the day, is a great investment so that when we return, we can return really well and give the students that full experience."
All boarding school students were fully vaccinated. ACT Health gave permission for the International Baccalaureate exams to continue under safety guidelines.
Erindale College was also closed on Monday after a student was infectious on site from Wednesday, November 3 to Friday November 5.
St Clare's College, Lanyon High School, Namadgi School, Holy Family Primary School, Orana Steiner School, Melrose High School, St Anthony's Parish Primary School, Gordon Primary School and Wanniassa Senior Campus also had cases infectious on site last week. These schools were able to stay open for students and teachers who were not considered close contacts.
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A pop-up testing clinic was set up at Lanyon High School on Monday.
Ms Berry warned Canberrans to watch out for mild symptoms of COVID-19 amid the highest pollen count Canberra has seen in a decade and an eagerness to enjoy relaxed restrictions.
"I just think that reminder is very key as we've seen this week as our schools have been impacted by people in the broader community maybe not being as vigilant as they need to be," she said.
ACT Council of Parents & Citizens Associations spokeswoman Janelle Kennard said the council had been working with the public schools affected to ensure they had the information they needed.
"We know that there is real diversity in how parents are responding. Everyone is more nervous and watchful and some do not feel safe for their kids to return to school," Ms Kennard said.
"Others are confident that the school is doing all they can to keep everyone safe, and that it is so valuable to be back to face-to-face learning, and catching up with friends."
Namadgi School P&C president Rhodina Ellison said parents received text messages and emails about the two cases at the school, one in a small group program at the Boddington offsite campus and another in the high school section of the main campus of the preschool to year 10 school.
ACT Health contacted people who needed to isolate and be tested while those who were not contacted did not need to do anything further.
Mrs Ellison said it was not a surprise that there had been a case at the Kambah school after other cases emerged in Tuggeranong last week.
"I did suspect that it was going to happen at some point I think everyone had that in the back of their minds. And I think the schools have been very well prepared for the what if?"
In the 24 hours to 8pm Sunday, the ACT recorded 13 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total active cases to 136.
There was one person hospitalised with the virus. They were on ventilation in intensive care.
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