With Victoria lifting their lockdown tonight, the ACT Government is recognising their improved situation and removing travel restrictions with the state from 11.59pm tonight, 17 February 2021.

The ACT no longer regards Victoria as a COVID-19 affected area and anyone in the ACT from Victoria, currently in quarantine, can leave after 11.59pm tonight, unless they have visited an identified exposure site or are a confirmed close contact.The previous restrictions around identified exposure sites in Victoria will remain the same.

• If you are an ACT resident and have visited any Tier 1 exposure sites, or have been designated as a primary close contact of a positive case, you must immediately self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19. You must complete an online declaration form as soon as possible and remain in quarantine for 14 days from the date of which you attended an exposure site.
• If you have visited a Tier 2 exposure site, follow the instructions for that site as advised by the Victorian Government.
• If you are not an ACT resident and have visited any Tier 1 exposure sites, do not come to the ACT at this time unless ACT Health has granted you an exemption. If you have visited a Tier 2 exposure site, follow the instructions for that site as advised by the Victorian Government.

The list of Victorian exposure sites is updated regularly so it is important that anyone who has recently been to, or is considering travelling to, Melbourne stay up to date with the latest information. For further information on travel from Victoria, including the list of exposure sites, visit the ACT COVID-19 website.

There remains no active cases in the ACT, however the ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith has announced a further extension of the ACT Public Health Emergency for 90 days, effective until 18 May 2021.

This decision has been made based on the advice of the ACT Chief Health Officer and recognises the ongoing threat of COVID-19 in Australia.

Ms Stephen-Smith said the reality was that until a vaccine was widely available, we would be living with COVID-19. 

“While there has been very positive news in recent days with the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine and the approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine, we have a way to go in completing the vaccine roll out across the country,” she said.

“We need to ensure we have the right processes in place to quickly and appropriately respond to any threat of COVID-19 in our community.

“Canberrans can expect a Public Health Emergency will be in place for some months to come and most likely throughout 2021,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.