The ACT has recorded 15 new COVID-19 cases again overnight, eight linked to current exposure sites or identified close contacts while seven remain under investigation.
The new cases reported in Canberra on Sunday included nine who were active in the community for part of their infectious period.
Five of the cases were in quarantine for their entire infectious period with one case under investigation.
Among the latest case count is a detainee at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, which has prompted authorities to brace for an outbreak in the territory’s only adult prison.
The detainee was tested on arrival yesterday and has been in isolation on site since, with all close contacts also now isolating.
“It’s a vulnerable community and a high risk setting so … we have some really good operational plans in place,” ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said.
As of this morning, 10 people in the ACT are now hospitalised with or due to COVID-19, down from 16 yesterday.
The youngest patient is under 12 years of age and the oldest is in their 70s.
Eight cases in hospital are unvaccinated, one has a single dose and one has two doses.
Three are in intensive care, one of whom requires ventilation.
The total number cases in the current outbreak in the ACT is 493.
There are now 239 active cases in Canberra, and 254 previous cases have fully recovered.
There were 2,406 COVID tests conducted on Saturday, which Mr Barr said was not good enough.
“We would like to see that number over 3,000 each day,” he said.
More than 75 per cent of the ACT population has received at least one vaccination dose.
Over the past week there have been 44,000 vaccinations administered, Mr Barr said.
The recipients include 95 per cent of over 50s receiving at least one dose.
The ACT figures come as Queanbeyan announced two new positive cases today.
With AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
