The ACT has recorded its first confirmed case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, prompting a further tightening of quarantine requirements.
The fully vaccinated person returned a positive test result on Wednesday, with genomic testing subsequently confirming the variant.
ACT Health is undertaking further contact tracing and has identified several exposure sites across 29 and 30 November, including an indoor pool and a school end of year celebration.
Casual contacts who attended those sites must immediately quarantine and remain isolated until they receive a negative test result.
The individual had not travelled overseas. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said authorities believed the case originated from New South Wales, and were working with NSW Health to identify the source.Â
ACT Health said testing centres would be open across the weekend and there was likely to be increased demand.
Omicron exposure sites in the ACT
| Exposure Site | Date | Arrival Time | Departure Time | Contact Classification |
| Next Gen Canberra – Indoor Pool area 1 Riggall Place, Lyneham ACT 2602 | 29/11/2021 | 5:15 PM | 6:45 PM | Casual |
| The Knox Made in Watson 13 Watson Place, Watson ACT 2602 | 30/11/2021 | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Casual |
| Supabarn 34-38 Eyre Street, Kingston ACT 2604 | 30/11/2021 | 4:20 PM | 4:50 PM | Casual |
| Blue Gum Community School – Spotted Bark End of Year Celebration – School Hall 114 Maitland St, Hackett ACT 2602 | 30/11/2021 | 4:30 PM | 6:30 PM | Casual |
Omicron changes to quarantine requirements
Ms Stephen-Smith announced that all close contacts of a confirmed Omicron case must quarantine for 14 days, regardless of their vaccination status.
This also applies to secondary contacts of a close contact, which is anyone living in the same home as a close contact of an Omicron case.
Requirements for casual contacts have not changed.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the government were taking a cautious approach to Omicron due to the lack of information on the new variant.
“Currently the impacts of this variant are unknown, including its rate of transmission, the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of the vaccine against it,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“And that is why ACT health authorities are taking a precautionary approach in increasing the quarantine requirements, even for people that are fully vaccinated, and adding those quarantine requirements for secondary household contacts at this time.”
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