Three additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the ACT this afternoon, bringing the Territory’s total to four.
Just after 5pm, Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman told ABC Radio Canberra three others, all close contacts of the first case, had tested positive.
“I can report very hot off the press that we knew of nine really close contacts, so these were people who had prolonged and repeated exposure to our case,” she said.
There were nine close contacts of the man known to ACT Health authorities, including the three new COVID cases.
“We know that three of those have given us additional positive cases, the other six have returned negative tests at this point in time.”
Earlier today it was announced a man in his 20s had tested positive to COVID-19 and had been active in the Canberra community while infectious.
The man visited a number of venues earlier this week including the Canberra Outlet Centre, two bars in the City and Braddon and a number of locations in North Canberra and the Inner South.
The full list of exposure locations can be found here.
For the next seven days, the ACT lockdown will require Canberrans to stay in their homes and only leave for essential reasons such as essential work, healthcare (including COVID-19 vaccination), essential groceries and supplies, and up to one hour of daily exercise.
Authorities have urged Canberrans to get tested for COVID-19 if they display any symptoms of COVID-19 or if they have been to any exposure sites.
With demand for testing expected to increase significantly, a new testing clinic has opened at Brindabella Business Park today, and operating hours will increase at both the Weston Creek and EPIC testing sites.
Prior to today it had been 105 days since the ACT’s last COVID case, a returning diplomat. It had also been over a year since the ACT’s last locally acquired case.
More to come.
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
For more local COVID-19 news:
