The ACT will enter a seven-day lockdown from 5pm today, Thursday 12 August, after a positive case of COVID-19, a man in his 20s, has been active in the Canberra community.
Authorities say they currently do not know the source of the infection, with “extensive investigation” underway.
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.
ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman says genomic sequencing is underway to determine where the outbreak has stemmed from, with the local case having spent “extensive time in the community” since Sunday morning. The man’s partner is also in quarantine.
“I suspect it’s Delta, I suspect it’s from the Sydney outbreak,” Dr Coleman said, but that she had “no thoughts” about where the infection might have come from.
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.
General retail will be closed, and hospitality venues will be takeaway only. Mandatory mask-wearing will be reintroduced for all trips outside of the house, except for rigorous exercise.
There is no distance mandate for how far people can travel from their homes, but Chief Minister Andrew Barr has urged people to stay within their local area.
“Do not be travelling across the ACT for exercise or essential supplies,” he said.
It’s the first positive case the ACT has seen in more than 100 days.
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 will open at Brindabella Business Park, and operating hours will increase at both the Weston Creek and EPIC testing sites.
Up on the hill, Federal Parliament was already set to rise on Thursday evening. There is another fortnight of sittings scheduled for 23 August to 2 September.
Dr Coleman said the ACT authorities would be working with Parliament to determine future sittings.
Parliament House is already shut to the public with many politicians appearing remotely because of lockdowns and border closures on the East Coast.
With AAP
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