Health authorities in the ACT are bracing for the week ahead after the first weekend of partially relaxed lockdown rules, NRL grand final celebrations and a fatigue in the community over the COVID-19 pandemic. Total territory cases for the current outbreak are likely to pass 1000 on Monday, with 38 new cases reported on Sunday and the record-high 52 cases recorded on the preceding two days. There are also 15 new cases in the Queanbeyan region – four in Googong, six in Queanbeyan, three in Karabar and two in Crestwood. While the ACT figure is a drop from the previous day, it is being seen as an increase as “it is still above what we have seen for the majority of this outbreak”, according to Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith. “I suspect that what we have seen is a step up in our sort of plateau, if you like, but it’s really too early to say for sure what that is,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. In a taste of the COVID projections and the response to come – and with rising case numbers in the Queanbeyan region – Ms Stephen Smith said the territory was “at a point where we really need to think about the context of the whole region as well, certainly when it comes to the impact on our health system.” ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Saturday warned of a “serious crisis” in the Canberra hospital system if Commonwealth funding did not increase going forward. There have been 977 cases to date in the ACT’s current Delta wave. 632 people have recovered, leaving 342 active cases. Fourteen people are currently in hospital, with five in ICU and three requiring ventilation. The ACT’s vaccination rates are high and nation-leading, but ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said relative community safety comes with “really high levels” of double-dose effective vaccination. More than 90 per cent of the ACT’s 12-and-over population is now vaccinated with one dose, while the 70 per cent full-dose figure is close to being achieved. Dr Coleman – who is expected to give a comprehensive update on the outbreak on Tuesday – indicated the ACT’s community transmission is shifting to a new significant stage. “I don’t think that we will get down to below 20 [cases pre day],” she said. “I think that we’re looking at 30s, 40s, 50s at a minimum moving forward.” “While this may not become a problem in a month or two when we’re at our very high, fully vaccinated coverage, it is still a concern at the moment.” This long weekend has been the first few days of slightly relaxed lockdown rules, allowing up to two people to visit another household, as well as the staging of the NRL grand final in Brisbane – usually a significant social event in Canberra. Superspreading has occurred interstate through social gatherings, most recently with the AFL grand final, and it is warned something similar could happen in the ACT. “Indeed, we are aware that within the ACT, smaller groups – smaller gatherings that are perfectly legal – have resulted in transmission,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “Don’t think that this cannot happen to you – it is right across the community at the moment, there is the potential for community transmission. “So please, please abide by the public health directions.” The new cases largely relate to close contacts of essential workers and household contacts, but health officials remain concerned about the number of people who have been infectious in the community. READ MORE: Fourteen were in quarantine for their full infectious period and at least 16 were infectious in the community. 24 of the new cases are linked to current exposure sites, while 14 are under early investigation. COVID “fatigue” and general non-compliance with the lockdown continues. The Health Minister said 20 people were directed to leave the ACT on Saturday, calling it “disappointing” when people chose to break the rules. “I know everybody wants to hug their family members and kiss one another and we’ve all been deprived of that physical contact over this period of time,” Ms Stephen-Smith said. “But just hold off for a little bit longer, please, if you can do so. If not, you know, be careful and cautious.” Dr Coleman continues to urge COVID testing even for those people fully vaccinated, to help others. “There are still members of our community, including some vulnerable members like children who are not yet vaccinated and might be eligible for a little while,” she said. COVID-19 vaccination efforts for diverse and at-risk communities has been boosted in recent days, including at Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander clinics now operating in north and south Canberra. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
ACT braces as COVID rules are put to the test
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The 38 new cases in the ACT on Sunday follow a two-day run of 52 cases, the record high for the territory.
news, act-politics, rachel stephen-smith, act, covid-19, covid, lockdown, act health
2021-10-03T20:26:00+11:00
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Health authorities in the ACT are bracing for the week ahead after the first weekend of partially relaxed lockdown rules, NRL grand final celebrations and a fatigue in the community over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Total territory cases for the current outbreak are likely to pass 1000 on Monday, with 38 new cases reported on Sunday and the record-high 52 cases recorded on the preceding two days. There are also 15 new cases in the Queanbeyan region – four in Googong, six in Queanbeyan, three in Karabar and two in Crestwood.
While the ACT figure is a drop from the previous day, it is being seen as an increase as “it is still above what we have seen for the majority of this outbreak”, according to Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith.
“I suspect that what we have seen is a step up in our sort of plateau, if you like, but it’s really too early to say for sure what that is,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
In a taste of the COVID projections and the response to come – and with rising case numbers in the Queanbeyan region – Ms Stephen Smith said the territory was “at a point where we really need to think about the context of the whole region as well, certainly when it comes to the impact on our health system.”
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Saturday warned of a “serious crisis” in the Canberra hospital system if Commonwealth funding did not increase going forward.
There have been 977 cases to date in the ACT’s current Delta wave. 632 people have recovered, leaving 342 active cases. Fourteen people are currently in hospital, with five in ICU and three requiring ventilation.
The ACT’s vaccination rates are high and nation-leading, but ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said relative community safety comes with “really high levels” of double-dose effective vaccination.
More than 90 per cent of the ACT’s 12-and-over population is now vaccinated with one dose, while the 70 per cent full-dose figure is close to being achieved.
A Canberra Hospital ward went into lockdown last month after two patients contracted COVID-19. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
Dr Coleman – who is expected to give a comprehensive update on the outbreak on Tuesday – indicated the ACT’s community transmission is shifting to a new significant stage.
“I don’t think that we will get down to below 20 [cases pre day],” she said.
“I think that we’re looking at 30s, 40s, 50s at a minimum moving forward.”
“While this may not become a problem in a month or two when we’re at our very high, fully vaccinated coverage, it is still a concern at the moment.”
This long weekend has been the first few days of slightly relaxed lockdown rules, allowing up to two people to visit another household, as well as the staging of the NRL grand final in Brisbane – usually a significant social event in Canberra.
Superspreading has occurred interstate through social gatherings, most recently with the AFL grand final, and it is warned something similar could happen in the ACT.
“Indeed, we are aware that within the ACT, smaller groups – smaller gatherings that are perfectly legal – have resulted in transmission,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“Don’t think that this cannot happen to you – it is right across the community at the moment, there is the potential for community transmission.
“So please, please abide by the public health directions.”
The new cases largely relate to close contacts of essential workers and household contacts, but health officials remain concerned about the number of people who have been infectious in the community.
Fourteen were in quarantine for their full infectious period and at least 16 were infectious in the community.
24 of the new cases are linked to current exposure sites, while 14 are under early investigation.
COVID “fatigue” and general non-compliance with the lockdown continues. The Health Minister said 20 people were directed to leave the ACT on Saturday, calling it “disappointing” when people chose to break the rules.
“I know everybody wants to hug their family members and kiss one another and we’ve all been deprived of that physical contact over this period of time,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“But just hold off for a little bit longer, please, if you can do so. If not, you know, be careful and cautious.”
Dr Coleman continues to urge COVID testing even for those people fully vaccinated, to help others.
“There are still members of our community, including some vulnerable members like children who are not yet vaccinated and might be eligible for a little while,” she said.
COVID-19 vaccination efforts for diverse and at-risk communities has been boosted in recent days, including at Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander clinics now operating in north and south Canberra.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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