The ACT has recorded its first coronavirus death, with a female in her 80s who acquired coronavirus overseas passing away over the weekend at Canberra Hospital.

ACT Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman, advised the Canberra community of the ACT’s first coronavirus death earlier today.

Dr Coleman offered her sincere condolences to the family and friends of the individual.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of this person through such a difficult time,” Dr Coleman said.

She said a sad reality of the disease is that the elderly are at an increased risk of complications from COVID-19.

“It is why we need everyone to take the social distancing measures we are implementing seriously.

“We need everyone to stay at home where possible, to practise good hygiene and to keep at least 1.5 metres away from others.”

Dr Coleman said it’s those measures that will give us the best chance to slow the spread of this disease and protect our most vulnerable.

“This is particularly important as we will continue to see the number of cases increase and local transmission start to occur in the ACT.”

ACT Health advised today there currently remains no evidence of community transmission in the ACT, but say “it is inevitable we will start to see this at some point”.

In the past 24 hours, there has been only one new confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canberra, bringing the ACT’s total to 78.

The new case is a female in her 30s. ACT Health can confirm the new case was linked to overseas travel.

There are currently six COVID-19 patients in Canberra Hospital. The rest are isolating at home.

There remains a total of two cases of recovery from COVID-19. Both have been released from self-isolation.

Returning travellers at home and in a Canberra hotel

All seven returning travellers who flew into Canberra on Qatar Airways on Saturday morning continue to be well.

As of this afternoon, five of the seven will continue with their mandatory self-quarantine at home.

This follows a thorough assessment by public health staff on the ability of these individuals to safely quarantine at home, without potentially exposing other family members.

Two will continue to be in quarantine at a Canberra hotel.

The ACT Government has established a new dedicated COVID-19 website for all information about the health and economic response to the pandemic locally.