The ACT Government has today announced a comprehensive October ‘pathway’ out of restrictions, with lockdown set to formally end Thursday 14 October from 11.59pm.

Additionally, a slew of changes to lockdown restrictions will come into effect from 12.01am this Friday, 1 October with more expansive easing then slated at the end of the month in line with national vaccination numbers; all subject to the local public health risk remaining relatively stable.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr today announced that from the start of next month, two people will be able to visit another household at any time, while time outside the home doubled to four hours a day with gathering sizes to remain at five.

All non-essential retail will be able to administer click-and-collect and click-and-deliver services with up to five people on the premises.

Outdoor boot camps, personal training and coaching will be able to recommence with no more than two people excluding staff.

ACT nature parks will also reopen.

“During October the ACT will hit 80 per cent of the population over the age of 12 fully vaccinated,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr Barr said from that point efforts will continue until everyone who wants a jab has got one. From that point efforts will divert toward a vaccination booster program.

“This very strong level of vaccination coverage will allow us to start taking gradual steps forward once we reach 80 per cent vaccination coverage of the population aged over 12,” he said.

Mr Barr warned however that even with high vaccination levels, the virus “will spread through our community quickly”.

“We can expect as the nation relaxed public health measures that the ACT could be recording daily case numbers in the hundreds,” he said.

The pathway includes no provision for a vaccine passport.

Mr Barr has previously remarked such a system would be a “solution to a problem that doesn’t exist”, as the demand to get vaccinated is so high in the Territory.

“My response to that in the ACT context is that period (between 70 and 80 per cent vaccination coverage) could be as short as five days, so why would we put in place such a complex set of arrangements for five days? I think that’s a legitimate question to ask,” he said earlier this month.

On the schooling front, a gradual return of students from pre-school to Year 10 will resume from week four with the plan for college-age students already announced.

Students in pre-school, kindergarten, years one, two, six, nine and 10 will return to ACT public schools from Monday 25 October.

All children attending early learning and childcare will be able to return from 25 October too.

From Monday 1 November all remaining students will return to face-to-face learning.

ACT lockdown end date to see venues, gyms, and hairdressers reopen

Many businesses closed since mid-August will get the opportunity to reopen when the ACT lockdown ends on 15 October, with overall restrictions moving from a “high” to “medium” setting.

On the business front, licensed venues, cafes, and restaurants will be able to operated seated service to a maximum capacity of 25 across a venue or one per four square metres indoors if that amount is less than 25.

Alternatively, venues can choose to operate alfresco to a maximum of 50 patrons at one per four square metres.

Hairdressers and beauty and personal services can recommence with a maximum of five customers at any one time.

All non-essential retail will continue to operate under click and collect or click and deliver services, with the maximum staffing capacity to jump from five to 10.

Gyms will reopen with strict COVID-safe requirements with a maximum of 25 people at one per four square metres.

Accommodation providers including hotels, motels, campgrounds, caravan parks and campsites can reopen.

From 15 October, five people will be able to visit another household at any one time and 25 people will be able to gather outdoors.

Swimming pools will reopen for lessons with up to 25 swimmers.

The 25 at one per four square metres cap will also apply to weddings, outdoor play centres, places of worship, outdoor auctions, and community centres and facilities.

Comprehensive October ‘roadmap’ outlined

Mr Barr noted restrictions will ease further as the national vaccination average climbs to 80 per cent toward the end of October.

From 29 October a number of businesses and activities will move toward even more relaxed density limits.

Licensed venues, cafes and restaurants will then be able to cater for 25 people across the venue before any density limits apply.

Beyond that 25 person base it will be one per four square metres up to 100 people, and one per two square metres outdoors up to 150 people.

This will also apply to many of the businesses and activities that will recommence on 15 October.

At that point organised sport will recommence under density limits, and swimming pools will reopen to the public.

On a personal note, from 29 October 10 people will be able to gather at a household, with 30 people able to meet outdoors.

Ticketed and seated events will also be able to recommence, with density limits depending on whether they are indoors or outdoors.

All retail stores will then be permitted to open adhering to one person per four square metre rules.

Cinemas, galleries and museums will be able to reopen too.

Dance classes, choirs and bands will also resume in person with a maximum of 20 people at one person per four square metres.

Mr Barr noted then as the ACT vaccination rate continues above 90 per cent additional changes will be considered.

They include further easing of density limits to one person per two square metres and larger gatherings in the home and outdoors.

Considerations for interstate and overseas travel will be considered “as we move through these phases of the ACT’s pathway forward”.

Mr Barr warned interstate travel will be “entirely subject to the border decisions of other state and territory governments” while international travel decisions lie with the Commonwealth.

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