The ACT has recorded 24 locally acquired coronavirus cases, a day after the territory eclipsed the 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone. 

21 of the new cases have been linked to known cases or ongoing clusters.

There are 18 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 10 in intensive care. 

Canberra will likely reach the 99 per cent double dose vaccination threshold by the end of November. 

The ACT will stop broadly reporting on people who were infectious in the community as vaccination coverage continues to rise.

It will instead focus on cases of rapid transmission and areas where vulnerable people are likely to have been exposed. 

Dr Coleman said the ACT will see more community transmission and higher daily case numbers as restrictions ease and linking every case will not be possible.

“COVID zero is no longer here,” she said. 

Some concerns remain about children under the age of 12, who cannot be vaccinated, returning to school.

Dr Coleman said cases will occur in schools, which would be difficult for parents, but the ACT was focusing on the reduction of severe illness.

“While I am not saying kids cannot get very sick, as a proportion it is very low,” she said. 

The ACT is preparing to open to all of NSW on 1 November but it is less certain when eased restrictions are slated for Victoria. 

Chief Minister Andrew Barr brought forward the relaxation of some restrictions after the territory eclipsed the 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone.

The ACT will align with NSW’s decision to remove quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated international arrivals from November 1.

The reopening of non-essential retail in the ACT has also been brought forward to October 22 with density limits of one person per four square metres in place.

Masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors from October 29.

Mr Barr said the vaccination rates should give people confidence about travelling for Christmas, the summer holidays and into 2021.

Hotspots in NSW will be limited to local government areas and the threshold for when a declaration is made will increase significantly from the start of November.

But some Canberrans will lose hundreds of dollars in income support payments over the next fortnight after the ACT passed the 80 per cent milestone.

The federal government will begin to taper the disaster payments after it removed the territory from its COVID-19 hotspot list. 

The maximum payment of $750 a week will reduce to $450 and then to $320 before ending in two weeks. 

The Commonwealth will continue its 50 per cent cost-sharing arrangement for COVID-19 related impacts on hospital and state public health authorities with all states and territories. 

With AAP

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