Government officials returning from overseas are in quarantine at a vacant residential accommodation complex at ANU for 14 days from Wednesday 21 July, ACT Health has announced.
The travellers will stay in apartments on Liversidge Street, supported by more than 30 ACT Health staff.
Robust infection prevention and control measures will be in place at the accommodation facility, an ACT Health spokesperson said. Conditions will be similar to those for hotel quarantine. ACT Health is confident there is no immediate risk to the wider community.
All passengers will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms on arrival and regularly during the quarantine period.
ACT Health staff, including social workers and psychologists, will monitor the travellers’ health and wellbeing every day.
This is the sixth government-facilitated flight ACT Health has managed for returning officials and diplomats.
“We continue to work closely with the Commonwealth Government and the ANU to ensure there are strict processes and measures in place to protect the health and safety of passengers, staff and the wider Canberra community,” a spokesperson said.
The university could not provide an exact number of travellers. “It is fair to say that there will be a handful of travellers quarantining at a time and there could be up to a dozen in any given cohort.”
Domestic students from interstate hotspots will be in quarantine at Davey Lodge, the university has confirmed.
Around 600 students from NSW are waiting to safely return to campus for Semester 2, once ACT Health permits them to enter Canberra, an ANU spokesperson said.
Returning domestic students were quarantined on campus during 2020 and 2021, following protocols developed with ACT Health. Since late June, more than 200 students have completed safe quarantine or stay at home orders on the ANU campus in preparation for Semester 2.
The ANU urged students in lockdown areas to stay tuned and not attempt to cross borders until given clear direction to do so. They should also follow the directions of ACT Health and health authorities in relevant jurisdictions.
The ANU has implemented academic and financial support for students who cannot return to ANU in time for the start of Semester 2.
“We know it is disappointing for many of our students who can’t return to campus at this point in time,” a spokesperson said. “That’s why we are working closely with ACT Health to help them get back as soon as is safely possible.”
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
For more news:
