Six weeks after the ACT imposed travel restrictions on Greater Sydney, ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman will revoke all NSW restrictions from 3pm today, 29 January, meaning a return to unencumbered interstate trips.

Dr Coleman thanked the community and public health staff for their efforts during “this busy and uncertain period”, which spanned most of the summer holidays.

“We know that these restrictions have been challenging, with many travel plans changed or cancelled, and many people have been required to quarantine at different periods of time,” she said.

The last locally acquired case in NSW was recorded 12 days ago, and the number of potential exposure sites decreased over the past fortnight.

ACT Health deems the risk of an undiagnosed case in NSW, and to the ACT, to be very low.

Cumberland Local Government Area (LGA) was the last on ACT Health’s no-go list, which was  updated one week ago on Friday, 22 January.

People in quarantine who recently travelled to Cumberland LGA will receive an SMS or email from ACT Health releasing them from quarantine from 3pm today.

The travel restrictions placed significant pressure on the ACT quarantine system, and at its peak there were almost 8,000 people in mandatory home quarantine in Canberra.

ACT Health processed more than 4,200 exemption applications for essential travel and other critical needs since 18 December 2020.

The end to travel restrictions does not mean an end to COVID-19 safety protocols within the ACT.

While out and about, Canberrans must continue to physically distance wherever possible, maintain hand and respiratory hygiene, use the Check in CBR app, stay home if unwell and get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

“While the situation across Australia is encouraging, we must all continue to follow the public health advice to keep the ACT community safe from COVID-19,” Dr Coleman said.

The ACT Government has a dedicated COVID-19 website. To learn more visit www.covid19.act.gov.au.