The ACT has recorded 38 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday, as the Chief Health Officer said that Canberra is unlikely to see cases in the teens again. The 38 new cases follow a two-day run of 52 cases, the record high for the territory. “I’m not seeing this as a drop in numbers, these are still higher than the week before those two 52 days,” Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said. “I don’t think that we will get down to below 20, I think that we’re looking at 30s, 40s, 50s at a minimum moving forward.” Twenty-four of the new cases are linked, while 14 are under early investigation. Though the number of linked cases is reassuring, the increase in cases over recent days “is still a concern at the moment,” the Chief Health Officer said. Fourteen were in quarantine for their full infectious period and at least 16 were infectious in the community. There are now 977 total cases linked to this outbreak and 342 active cases. Fourteen people are currently in hospital, with five in ICU and three requiring ventilation. The age range of people in hospital is in their 20s to 80s, and of the people in hospital nine are unvaccinated, four had a first dose, and one person’s vaccination status is under investigation. Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the case numbers are still above what we’ve been seeing for the majority of this outbreak, and warned people to take care as the number of people infectious in the community remains high. She reminded people not to use the public holiday weekend or NRL Grand Final as an excuse to gather together in large groups. “The number of people who have been infectious in the community … is a reminder that we all need to take care. We know from examples interstate, that larger gatherings can … impact multiple households,” she said. “We are also seeing some evidence of transmission at those gathering that are perfectly okay under the health directions. “…The health directions are in place for a reason, and breaking them can endanger yourself, your family and your friends.” “I think generally people in the ACT are pretty compliant but we also know that there is a level of fatigue,” she said. 2962 tests were taken on Saturday, and 33 in-person compliance checks, 1313 drivers were stopped and 20 people were directed to leave the ACT. She said this many tests on a Saturday was “pretty good numbers,” and that a usual drop in testing numbers over the weekend was unlikely to be the cause for a decreased daily case rate, from 52 to 38. One infringement notice and one caution were issued. Canberra Health Services is responding to several COVID-19 exposure sites across the health system, including: a positive case in Canberra Hospital food services, an in-patient ward 14A, a team member on ward 12B, and continuing management of exposures on ward 10A. No additional COVID-19 transmission has been recorded as a result of these, which the Health Minister attributed to strong protective measures in place. “As far as we can tell they’re not all part of the same cluster,” the Health Minister said, though she confirmed newer cases were not linked to an older exposure in ward 10A. The Health Minister said people should feel safe attending hospital. More than 100 health care workers in quarantine for between five and 14 days based on exposure risk. She said these instances of exposure were putting stress on the public health system, in addition to the need for more funding from the Commonwealth. “Even if you are fully vaccinated we still need you to get tested if you have been exposed or you have any symptoms at all,” the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said MORE COVID-19 NEWS: One new case as been linked to Calvary Haydon Retirement Community, two to the 7 London Circuit construction site, another two a construction site which is linked to London Circuit and a Scotts Crossing construction site has a new case. Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Saturday warned of a “serious crisis” at Canberra’s hospitals if Commonwealth funding did not increase going forward. His comments followed a letter to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, signed by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith and her fellow states and territory health ministers. They wrote that a boost in funding was needed because of the “unrelenting strain” on their health systems, in what they assert will be “the most critical phase of the COVID-19 pandemic response for our hospital systems”. On Friday, the ACT reported a record-high number of new cases at 52, as well as two deaths linked to the Calvary Haydon Retirement Community. Saturday saw a repeat of 52 cases for the territory. Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said she would provide an update on what health officials were observing in the outbreak on Tuesday. Our coverage of the health and safety aspects of this outbreak of COVID-19 in the ACT and the lockdown is free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. You can also sign up for our newsletters for regular updates. 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:
‘I’m not seeing this as a drop in numbers’: CHO as ACT records 38 new cases
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There are currently 14 people hospitalised in Canberra’s outbreak.
coronavirus,
2021-10-03T11:45:00+11:00
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https://players.brightcove.net/3879528182001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6275298852001
The ACT has recorded 38 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday, as the Chief Health Officer said that Canberra is unlikely to see cases in the teens again.
The 38 new cases follow a two-day run of 52 cases, the record high for the territory.
“I’m not seeing this as a drop in numbers, these are still higher than the week before those two 52 days,” Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said.
“I don’t think that we will get down to below 20, I think that we’re looking at 30s, 40s, 50s at a minimum moving forward.”
Twenty-four of the new cases are linked, while 14 are under early investigation.
Though the number of linked cases is reassuring, the increase in cases over recent days “is still a concern at the moment,” the Chief Health Officer said.
Fourteen were in quarantine for their full infectious period and at least 16 were infectious in the community.
There are now 977 total cases linked to this outbreak and 342 active cases.
Fourteen people are currently in hospital, with five in ICU and three requiring ventilation.
The age range of people in hospital is in their 20s to 80s, and of the people in hospital nine are unvaccinated, four had a first dose, and one person’s vaccination status is under investigation.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the case numbers are still above what we’ve been seeing for the majority of this outbreak, and warned people to take care as the number of people infectious in the community remains high.
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
She reminded people not to use the public holiday weekend or NRL Grand Final as an excuse to gather together in large groups.
“The number of people who have been infectious in the community … is a reminder that we all need to take care. We know from examples interstate, that larger gatherings can … impact multiple households,” she said.
“We are also seeing some evidence of transmission at those gathering that are perfectly okay under the health directions.
“…The health directions are in place for a reason, and breaking them can endanger yourself, your family and your friends.”
“I think generally people in the ACT are pretty compliant but we also know that there is a level of fatigue,” she said.
2962 tests were taken on Saturday, and 33 in-person compliance checks, 1313 drivers were stopped and 20 people were directed to leave the ACT.
She said this many tests on a Saturday was “pretty good numbers,” and that a usual drop in testing numbers over the weekend was unlikely to be the cause for a decreased daily case rate, from 52 to 38.
One infringement notice and one caution were issued.
Canberra Health Services is responding to several COVID-19 exposure sites across the health system, including: a positive case in Canberra Hospital food services, an in-patient ward 14A, a team member on ward 12B, and continuing management of exposures on ward 10A.
No additional COVID-19 transmission has been recorded as a result of these, which the Health Minister attributed to strong protective measures in place.
“As far as we can tell they’re not all part of the same cluster,” the Health Minister said, though she confirmed newer cases were not linked to an older exposure in ward 10A.
The Health Minister said people should feel safe attending hospital.
More than 100 health care workers in quarantine for between five and 14 days based on exposure risk.
She said these instances of exposure were putting stress on the public health system, in addition to the need for more funding from the Commonwealth.
“Even if you are fully vaccinated we still need you to get tested if you have been exposed or you have any symptoms at all,” the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said
One new case as been linked to Calvary Haydon Retirement Community, two to the 7 London Circuit construction site, another two a construction site which is linked to London Circuit and a Scotts Crossing construction site has a new case.
His comments followed a letter to federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, signed by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith and her fellow states and territory health ministers.
They wrote that a boost in funding was needed because of the “unrelenting strain” on their health systems, in what they assert will be “the most critical phase of the COVID-19 pandemic response for our hospital systems”.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said she would provide an update on what health officials were observing in the outbreak on Tuesday.
Our coverage of the health and safety aspects of this outbreak of COVID-19 in the ACT and the lockdown is free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. You can also sign up for our newsletters for regular updates.
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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