Three more cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 have been identified in the ACT, bringing the total number to 10.
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The ACT has reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 overall in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday, with 76 cases now active in the territory.
The number of cases reported on Saturday was the highest daily total since November 24, when 15 cases were reported.
There are five people in Canberra hospitals being treated for COVID-19, with two in intensive care. No one requires ventilation.
Health authorities received 1492 negative COVID-19 test results in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, as of Friday, 98.2 per cent of the eligible population in the ACT is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
A small number of people received incorrect quarantine advice in text messages from ACT Health on Saturday morning, but a spokeswoman said the system error had been fixed.
"Quarantine requirements for affected individuals [has been] clarified in further communication directly to them," the spokeswoman said.
ACT Health also confirmed that not all Omicron exposure locations would be publicly notified, in line with existing policies.
"All Omicron exposure locations that require public notification have been publicly notified. Exposure locations where all contacts affected have been identified and communicated with directly by ACT Health are not publicly notified, as per standard procedure. This includes Omicron exposure locations," a spokeswoman said.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on Friday said the number of cases each day would fluctuate, and acknowledged stricter quarantine requirements were tough in the lead-up to Christmas.
Ms Stephen-Smith said health authorities would monitor new information about the Omicron variant each day, but a 14-day quarantine period was the current health advice for contacts.
"Unfortunately, this is the world that we're living in. We do have to live with COVID but part of that means that people who are exposed as close contacts, and particularly those who are unvaccinated or those who've been exposed to the Omicron variant, do need to quarantine to protect the rest of the community," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"It is a really unfortunate and difficult circumstance for those people, but we do have to take this situation really seriously, because we all want to get through summer with the minimum possible impact of the pandemic."
Seven cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 had been identified in the ACT to 8pm on Thursday, at which point there were approximately 380 people in quarantine after being exposed to the variant.
Around Australia
Victoria has added 1193 new infections to its COVID-19 caseload along with 13 virus-related deaths.
The state is now managing more than 11,400 active coronavirus cases. There are 323 COVID patients in Victorian hospitals, 68 of them in intensive care and 29 who require ventilation.
Health officials say virus testers managed to process almost 83,000 results in the 24 hours to Friday evening.
Victoria is now 92 per cent vaccinated for everyone aged 12 and over.
NSW has recorded 560 new COVID-19 infections and three deaths, as the number of daily cases continues to surge.
It is the highest-daily tally recorded in NSW since October 9, two days before lockdown lifted, and the second day in a row with more than 500 cases.
The number of people diagnosed with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in NSW has reached 42.
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Health authorities are concerned festive season celebrations are driving the spike in cases, and are urging caution.
"The transmission in these types of settings is contributing to the increase in cases in NSW," Dr Jeremy McAnulty said on Friday.
"We urge people not to attend any of these social functions or venues if you have any symptoms at all, even if mild."
NSW Health is already battling to contain several large transmission events.
A trivia night at a Sydney pub sparked a new cluster of cases, with at least 46 patrons testing positive to the virus after attending the Oxford Tavern in Petersham on November 30.
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Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
