The ACT has recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with seven linked to existing cases and the remaining nine still under early investigation.
None of the 16 new cases were in quarantine during their infectious period, four of these were essential workers who were infectious in the community for a period of time, seven spent varying degrees of time in the community while infectious, and five remain under early investigation as to their time spent in the community.
Deputy Chief Health Officer, Dr Vanessa Johnston, said the time people spend infectious in the community varies, as does the risk they pose to the community based on where they went and whether they were masked.
“We do take a particularly conservative approach on this factor as we continue to strive toward our vaccination goals,” she said.
Twelve cases are now in hospital with or due to COVID-19, two from NSW, while two are in ICU, both requiring ventilation.
Of the 12, six are unvaccinated, three have received one dose, one is fully vaccinated, and the status of two are unknown.
The youngest patient remains under 12 and the oldest in their 90s.
The total cases for this outbreak now stands at 674.
The total number of recovered cases now stands at 463, 27 more than yesterday.
There remain 211 active cases in the ACT.
Busy Bees Childcare Centre in Brindabella and Ainslie Village remain the ACT’s only active exposure locations.
2,657 tests were conducted yesterday, higher than the previous days but “still a little lower” than ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr would like.
“Too many of our cases have been waiting days and days and days with symptoms before coming forward to get tested, that’s why they’ve been infectious in the community,” he said.
Yesterday, over 3,000 first doses were administered at ACT Government mass vaccination clinics.
Mr Barr said the bulk of Canberrans still waiting for a jab are younger.
At this point, less than one third of Canberrans aged 16-39 are fully vaccinated, while the 40+ population is now over 80 per cent.
The Moderna vaccine has arrived to the ACT “in significant quantities” and is now available via local pharmacies with bookings open.
Canberrans aged 12-59 are eligible to receive a Moderna jab.
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