People entering the ACT from a COVID-19 affected area in Melbourne must quarantine for 14 days, under a new ACT Public Health Direction that came into effect from 2pm today, Thursday 4 February.

The Victorian Government has determined a number of areas in Melbourne to be Tier 1 public exposure sites after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive to the virus.

Anyone in the ACT who has been in one of the exposure sites or identified as a close contact must immediately enter quarantine.

In a statement, ACT Health said people would be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days after they visited the exposure site, even if they return a negative COVID-19 test result.

They will also be required to complete an online declaration form within 24 hours of the Health Direction coming into effect.

Anyone who has been in one of the exposure sites or identified as a close contact and wishing to travel to the ACT must obtain an exemption from both ACT Health and Victorian authorities.

ACT Health is monitoring the COVID-19 situation in Victoria closely, and advises Canberrans thinking of travelling to Melbourne to stay up to date with the latest travel advice and exposure site information.

There were no new cases of the virus recorded in the ACT today and the Territory currently has no active cases.

ACT Health also advised the community no traces of COVID-19 were detected in a sample of Belconnen wastewater collected on Monday 1 February, after traces were detected in sewage late last month. It is believed the detection came as a result of a previously identified case of COVID-19 shedding the virus.

For more information on the unfolding COVID-19 situation in Melbourne, visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services Website. The ACT has a dedicated COVID-19 website for all the latest local information.

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