Daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in the ACT are predicted to triple over the next month, ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman warned at a virus update to the Canberra community today, Monday 11 July.

Case numbers are expected to rise to between 2,000 and 3,000 a day, and while Dr Coleman said no mandates are currently in force in the ACT, she would “never say never”.

The possible reinfection period for Canberrans who have had COVID-19 has been reduced from 12 weeks to just 28 days, and this will formally come into effect from midnight tonight, 11 July. Dr Coleman is urging the community to be aware of their symptoms, as reinfection after 28 days is now considered possible.

“We are not currently looking at mandates… we only want to use [them] when we absolutely have to, but I am strongly urging everybody to do what you can to help minimise transmission and impacts of COVID-19,” she said.

“We do expect this current wave to build over the coming weeks, which will place further pressures over the Canberra community but also our health system.

“This current wave of COVID-19 is being driven by the rise of the BA.4 and/or the BA.5 Omicron subvariants, which are quickly overtaking our previous subvariants, and as you’ve probably heard, these subvariants are escaping immune defences that we have developed to COVID-19, making them more transmissible than we’ve seen before.

“Modelling does show that daily COVID-19 case numbers are expected to continue to increase across Australia over the coming weeks, and these numbers are not expected to peak until later this month or earlier next month, during which time we could be seeing more than 2,000 or even 3,000 cases a day, just here in the ACT.”

“We need to use our COVID-smart behaviours again to continue to help protect our community as this new wave approaches and makes its way through Canberra and Australia.”

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Dr Coleman is imploring the Canberra community to follow a number of COVID-smart behaviours to help reduce the impact and spread of COVID-19 across the ACT:

• Keep up to date with COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations.
• Stay at home and get tested if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild.
• Know if you and your family are eligible for an antiviral treatment.
• Do not attend high-risk settings if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
• Wear a mask when outside of your home in a crowded or indoor setting and on public transport.
• Practise good hygiene.
• Work from home if feasible.

“The coming wave of COVID-19 infections is serious, and we all need to work together to protect ourselves our family members and our community,” Dr Coleman said.

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