Canberra and NSW are working to establish common travel and quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated people.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr expects fully vaccinated residents to be allowed to move freely through NSW in accordance with that state’s restrictions once it double-doses 80 per cent of over-16s.
From mid-October and throughout November, the ACT anticipates matching NSW quarantine requirements for residents of that state coming into Canberra.
In the meantime, the ACT’s border bubble with NSW just outside of Canberra is set to continue operating as usual.
The ACT also expects to continue to restrict entry for any residents subject to future lockdowns in parts of NSW.
“It would be logical to draw a distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated people as to potentially both the duration of quarantine and the location of quarantine,” Mr Barr told reporters on Wednesday.
“If it’s possible to have a consistent approach between the two jurisdictions, I understand that would make life easier for everyone.”
The chief minister said the bottom line was travel would be a lot more complicated and restricted for the unvaccinated.
NSW plans to start treating unvaccinated people the same as those who are double-dosed from December 1.
The ACT’s lockdown will lift from 11.59pm on 14 October, with restrictions to ease progressively throughout the remainder of the year.
Canberra has 237 active infections, with 22 new cases recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday.
A source can be found for a dozen of these and just seven were in quarantine the whole time.
Of 14 cases linked to the Calvary Haydon Retirement Community, 10 are residents.
Three staff members are also infected along with one household contact.
The ACT and federal governments have reached an in-principle agreement to extend jointly funded grants.
“There will be a narrower range of industry sectors, hospitality being one of them, that will need ongoing support beyond the end of the lockdown,” Mr Barr said.
He did not take issue with the federal government’s plan to phase out disaster payments as states and territories reached 70 and 80 per cent vaccination thresholds.
The ACT anticipates having 80 per cent of its over-12s double-dosed by mid-October.
“It was important that there was a tapering down, that the payments weren’t immediately cut,” Mr Barr said, adding the payments would still cover the month of October before restrictions eased further.
AAP
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