Chief Minister Andrew Barr has announced that the ACT will receive around one million rapid antigen tests (RATs) from NSW at a cost from 17 January 2022.
Barr issued a statement after the National Cabinet meeting today to discuss future Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine (TTIQ) and RATs.
“Broad agreement has been reached on national close contact definitions and quarantining and testing arrangements,” the statement read.
“These are essentially aligned with the current ACT framework with some minor adjustments as the supply of RATs increases.
“NSW will provide around one million rapid antigen tests at cost to the ACT from 17 January 2022. We will work with them on the details of this as well as further potential joint procurement arrangements with other state and territories. These additional tests will supplement our existing stockpile and will be available for use in our system later in January.
“We have more RATs on order to respond to the evolution of testing arrangements in the context of higher case numbers and community transmission.
“National Cabinet has also agreed to work on a concessional RAT supply arrangement to provided highly subsidised tests to low income households. Further details will be provided in the coming weeks.”
Barr also thanked Canberrans for their response to the ongoing pandemic and stressed that with the new Omicron variant, the public health objective is to reduce transmission and pressure on our hospitals.
“As 2021 draws to close, I want to thank Canberrans for helping us to keep our city safe. Our world leading vaccination rate is testament to our community’s care for each other,” said Barr.
“The ACT continues to implement the public health advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and our own Chief Health Officer. This includes asking Canberrans to wear masks indoors, continue other COVID-safe behaviours including social distancing and good hand hygiene, and getting a booster as soon as you become eligible.”
He is also encouraging Canberrans to work from home wherever possible to help further reduce the risk of transmission.
COVID testing, quarantine changes announced
Meanwhile, isolation periods for COVID-positive cases and close contacts will be slashed and the country will more heavily rely on rapid antigen tests, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
All close contacts, including unvaccinated people, currently in quarantine in the ACT and who have received a negative result from their day 6 test, can now leave quarantine from day 7.
Close contacts should still stay out of high risk settings, like hospitals and aged care facilities, for another 7 days unless you are seeking urgent medical care or have prior approval.
Positive rapid tests will need to be confirmed by a PCR test.
State and territory leaders agreed the common definition of a close contact will only cover household or intimate contacts who spent more than four hours with a positive case at an emergency national cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Symptomatic close contacts will still need to take a PCR test.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the changes reflected “a practical way forward” and recognised the different situations different states faced.
The ACT along with four other jurisdictions – NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia – will move to adopt the new definition from Friday 31 December.
Canberra recorded a new daily high of COVID cases today with 253 infections.
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