The ACT’s COVID restrictions are set to ease further from 9am Wednesday 2 December when the one person per four square metre rule will be reduced to one person per two square metres.
Businesses and venues desiring to move to the increased density will only be able to do so if they are using the Check-in CBR app.
They will have until 16 December to have the app set up to benefit from the one person per two square metre edict.
“It is very important that our contact tracing team is able to respond to positive cases very quickly,” ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.
“The Check-in CBR app is the fastest and most effective way for our contact tracing team to do this.”
Other changes to current restrictions will include patrons now being allowed to consume food standing up in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
However, customers must continue to be seated when consuming alcohol indoors.
GIO Stadium and Manuka Oval will be able to have crowds of up to 65% capacity, so long as each event is ticketed and seated, and a COVID Safe Plan is in place.
Enclosed outdoor venues with permanent tiered seating or grandstands will also be able to move to 65% capacity for up to 1,500 people.
Large indoor performance venues, such as theatres and arenas, can have up to 65% capacity for seated and ticketed events, up to a maximum of 1,500 people.
Cinemas and movie theatres will be able to operate at 65% capacity per theatre up to 500 people if they are using Check-in CBR app.
Events up to 8,000 people will be able to be considered for exemptions, up from 5,000. Any events or gatherings in the ACT above 500 people will continue to require an exemption.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr today (Thursday 26 November) also confirmed changes to several major Canberra summer events.
Canberra’s New Year’s Eve celebrations will feature no fireworks and no major concert in Civic Square, instead a series of smaller events spread out across Canberra.
“These events in each of our town centres will include local musicians performing live,” Mr Barr said.
There will be a new format for Canberra’s Australia Day celebrations next year with details to be announced shortly.
The National Multicultural Festival, usually held in February, will be postponed “likely to final quarter of 2021” and will be modified in line with public health arrangements at the time.
Held annually in March, Enlighten will also be modified, with “many elements” of the festival to be able to go ahead, notably the building illuminations.
The Night Noodle Markets are currently considering whether to go ahead with the event in a different format.
The Balloon Spectacular, Symphony in the Park, and Canberra Day celebrations, also held in March, will all be reformatted to fit in with the restrictions.
View the latest version of Canberra’s Recovery Plan here, and more information on the changes to restrictions here.
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