With one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, the ACT is on track to start lifting coronavirus restrictions from next Friday as planned.

But ACT Health continues to remind Canberrans that the territory is still in lockdown until then.

“This means minimising your time in the community and only leaving your home for the approved reasons,” ACT Health said in a statement.

The Territory recorded 30 new COVID cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night with 16 linked to existing cases or ongoing clusters and the remaining 14 still under early investigation.

Of Canberra’s 30 new cases, seven spent their entire infectious period in quarantine and six spent time in the community while infectious and may present a risk of transmission.

Fifteen people are currently in hospital with or due to COVID-19, with six in intensive care and five of those requiring ventilation.

The number of cases associated with this outbreak now stands at 1,202 with 763 recovered and six deaths, all of whom were aged in their 70s, 80s or 90s and already receiving end of life care for other conditions. A total of 433 virus cases remain active.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said on Saturday he would no longer be facing the media on weekends to provide an update on the COVID-19 situation.

The Territory is due to start easing restrictions on Friday 15 October.

As of late last week, more than 95 per cent of Canberrans had received at least one vaccination against the coronavirus, with close to 70 per cent having received two. 

Yesterday, Barr also confirmed that Canberrans will be able to book Christmas holidays to the south coast in NSW and Victoria.

The news comes as NSW recorded 477 new local coronavirus cases as the state prepares to open up for fully vaccinated residents tomorrow.

With AAP

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