The ACT has recorded seven new COVID-19 infections, a day after ACT Health confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in Canberra.
One of the cases today is a close contact of the confirmed Omicron case.
The number of people in hospital with active or cleared cases of the virus has risen by two to six. Three remain in intensive care with none requiring ventilation.
97.9 per cent of the eligible population in the ACT are now fully vaccinated.
There are 119 active cases in the ACT with the total number of cases since the start of the outbreak in Canberra now at 2,029.
There were 1,334 negative tests recorded in the past 24 hours.
The Omicron case and changes to quarantine requirements
The news comes after ACT Health confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in the ACT along with four exposure sites last night.
The case is a fully vaccinated individual that has not travelled overseas.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said authorities believed the case originated from New South Wales, and were working with NSW Health to identify the source.
Ms Stephen-Smith also announced that all close contacts of a confirmed Omicron case must quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
This also applies to secondary contacts of a close contact, which is anyone living in the same home as a close contact of an Omicron case.
Requirements for casual contacts have not changed.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the government were taking a cautious approach to Omicron due to the lack of information on the new variant.
“Currently the impacts of this variant are unknown, including its rate of transmission, the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of the vaccine against it,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“And that is why ACT health authorities are taking a precautionary approach in increasing the quarantine requirements, even for people that are fully vaccinated, and adding those quarantine requirements for secondary household contacts at this time.”
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