In response to the increased presence of COVID-19 in Canberra, ACT Health is continually adjusting the public health response to focus on identifying those who are at highest risk of exposure and those most likely to develop severe illness.

In line with this, ACT Health has reviewed the risk assessment process for exposure locations to re-focus on locations that have the highest risk of transmission to high-risk settings and priority populations.

As a result, many locations that had been identified as casual contact are being reclassified as “monitor for symptoms”.

Symptom-free individuals who have been to a “monitor for symptoms” location at the specified time no longer need to quarantine and do not require a COVID-19 test.

However, people who have attended these locations should be particularly vigilant for any symptoms, and if they develop, they should get tested with a COVID-19 PCR test and isolate until a negative result is received.

This change does not affect people identified as casual contacts based on their known interactions with a confirmed case, who will still be required to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Check In CBR now supports ‘push’ notifications for exposure sites to help people know when they have been at an exposure site and what they need to do. It is important that people continue to check in to help keep Canberra safe. Canberrans should make sure their app is updated to the latest version and that they have notifications turned on.

With these changes and push notifications being used, SMS text messages will be no longer be sent to people who have been to exposure sites identified by Check In CBR.

People who have previously been advised they were at an exposure site should check the list of sites again today. Anyone who was previously advised they were at a casual exposure site that is now classified as “monitor for symptoms”, and who is symptom-free, does not need to wait to hear from ACT Health, but can leave quarantine immediately.

Anyone who is awaiting a test result and has symptoms, not matter how mild, should remain isolated until they receive their result.

The news comes as the ACT recorded a new high of 252 COVID-19 cases today.

Click here for the full ACT exposure locations list.

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