It’s hoped high vaccination rates will help stem a COVID-19 outbreak at a retirement village in Belconnen, where two staff have tested positive. 

The workers from the Calvary Haydon Retirement Community in Bruce were double-dosed and wore appropriate protective equipment.

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman on Friday also flagged additional cases at the village, both in staff and residents, recorded after Thursday’s 8pm cutoff. 

These infections will be included in Saturday’s numbers.

It’s unclear how many staff had been furloughed, but authorities stressed work was under way to ensure residents could be cared for adequately.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the vaccination rate among residents there was high, but did not give a precise figure. 

Across the sector, about 87 per cent of staff are fully vaccinated. More than 99 per cent had received at least one dose as mandated.

At least 13 of the ACT’s latest cases were in the community for some of the time while infectious. 

Four were in quarantine the whole time and the isolation status of the other two was being investigated.

A source of infection could be found for a dozen cases transmitted through households or as part of ongoing clusters.

There are 12 people in hospital, including three in intensive care. Two patients require ventilation.

The ACT government will spend $90 million on expanding Canberra Hospital’s intensive care unit and boosting emergency surgery capacity.

Nearly 57.5 per cent of the ACT’s eligible population is fully vaccinated. More than 83 per cent have had one dose.

Dr Coleman asked for the community’s patience about a roadmap out of the territory’s nine-week lockdown scheduled until October 15.

“This is an incredibly tricky situation,” she told reporters. 

“This is about trying to balance our pathway through the next couple of months as we relax our social restrictions, as we increase our vaccination coverage.”

Chief Minister Andrew Barr is working with the federal government to shore up Canberra’s Pfizer supply between September and October.

There are reports the territory’s allocation would drop from 218,000 to 156,000 between September and October.

“We hope that’s not the case,” Mr Barr said.

“We’ve been engaging with the commonwealth, obviously, over a number of days now in order to try and avoid that. I’m optimistic that we may be able to reach a better outcome for the territory.”

The ACT has 217 active infections and 3455 tests were conducted on Thursday.

AAP

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