The ACT has recorded seven new cases overnight, all linked with six household contacts, but only two were in quarantine during their entire infectious period.

At least four spent part of their infectious period in the community and one remains under investigation.

The number of Canberrans in hospital with or due to COVID-19 has fallen to five overnight, two of whom are in intensive care with one requiring ventilation.

The age of Canberrans hospitalised ranges from 18 to 70+.

Of the five, four are unvaccinated and one has had a single dose.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said it is too early to celebrate the ACT recording just seven new cases given figures have fluctuated throughout this outbreak.

“Today’s case numbers are positive, but as was the case on Friday when we recorded 30 cases, it is too early to know if this was just a one off,” he said.

The total number of cases for this outbreak is now at 625 with the total number of recovered cases at 401.

There are 224 active cases across the Territory.

2,646 tests were conducted yesterday, broadly in line with normal weekend numbers.

380 traffic stops were reported and 59 business compliance checks conducted yesterday, with “excellent compliance” reported.

ACT Chief Police Officer (CPO) Neil Gaughan said ACT Policing are starting to see “a little bit of complacency starting to appear across the Territory”.

With ACT reserves closed under lockdown restrictions, ACT Policing turned around roughly 250 motor vehicles over the weekend heading toward Uriarra Crossing and the Cotter.

“There was plenty of signage there and they ignored that,” CPO Gaughan said. “We ask you not to go to those sorts of locations.”

Since Thursday 16 September, 7,400 traffic stops have been conducted with 40 turnarounds.

Since the start of lockdown, ACT Policing have stopped “in excess of 26,000 motor vehicles”.

From “Thursday or Friday” this week, Australian Defence Force (ADF) resources will help ACT Policing monitor the border for the first time.

CPO Gaughan said the three main functions of the ADF support will be to assist with the marshalling of vehicles, initial triaging and compliance checks, and provide assistance to the general public with respect to interpreting the public health directions.

Training to refine processes between ACT Policing and the ADF will be conducted prior to deployment.

Health system to expect pressure ‘unlike anything seen before’

Mr Barr indicated that the priority over the coming weeks as the ACT and the nation approaches the vaccination thresholds required to reopen is to get as many people back to work as soon as possible.

Additionally, a range of mental health measures will be supported and more outdoor activity will be prioritised.

Community and business compliance will be a factor when considering easing restrictions in the weeks ahead.

“The clear advice is that it is prudent to wait until reaching 80 per cent before making major changes,” he said.

Mr Barr said pressure “unlike anything seen before” will be placed on health systems across Australia upon reopening, even at 80 per cent vaccination rates.

“Extreme pressure is coming to NSW and Victoria’s health systems, and it would be naïve to think that the ACT system won’t also come under pressure,” he said.

“We plan to ease restrictions as we transition through the vaccination stages in mid-to-late October and early-to-mid November, but this may need to be slowed if we experience significant outbreaks during those times.”

Vaccinations open up for 12- to 15-year-olds

From today, parents can book children aged 12-15 years in to get a Pfizer vaccine through an ACT Government clinic.

There are 20,000 Canberrans in this age cohort.

The Chief Minister said current advice from the Commonwealth Government is that the ACT will not see the supply of Pfizer to ACT Government-led vaccination clinics reduced over September and October, as had been indicated in national cabinet papers last Friday.

“However, we will also not see the increase in supply that had been projected for the ACT between September and October-November,” he said.

“We will continue to work with the Commonwealth on this point.”

Increase in ACT mRNA vaccine supply is now projected to all be in primary care; Pfizer to GPs and Moderna to pharmacies.

“If you are looking to get an early appointment for your 12- to 15-year-old to get vaccinated, we would strongly encourage you to consider doing that through a GP or a pharmacist,” Mr Barr said.

Over 3,500 jabs were administered yesterday through ACT Government-led mass vaccination clinics; 70 per cent of these were first doses, 30 per cent second doses.

Today the ACT will reach 80 per cent of the population aged 12 and up who have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; 55 per cent of the ACT’s population aged 12 and up are double vaxxed, around 200,000 people.

There are approximately 50,000 eligible Canberrans who have not had a first dose.

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