Page 3095 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 9 November 2021
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COVID-19 vaccination. It is important that parents and carers closely monitor for symptoms in children before sending them to school. If your child is feeling unwell, please do not send them to school. Keep them at home and, if they have any COVID-19 symptoms, arrange for them to get a PCR test.
Testing numbers have decreased over the past month, with current testing numbers around 1,200 tests each day—although much higher yesterday. We are encouraging Canberrans to get tested if they are experiencing any symptoms, no matter how mild. Although our test positivity rate remains similar to that recorded during lockdown, it is crucial that our testing numbers remain steady to ensure that we can identify any unlinked cases in the community. As at 9 am on 8 November, the ACT had recorded a total of 568,371 negative tests.
There is growing interest in the potential use of rapid antigen tests. This type of test has limitations, including, most importantly, the risk of false negative results. This can mean that people with COVID-19 are more likely to be missed using this approach. However, rapid antigen testing becomes more useful as the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community increases.
ACT Health is working closely with New South Wales and Victoria on the feasibility of using rapid antigen testing in schools, particularly as part of a “test to stay” strategy when students are identified as close contacts, and the Chief Health Officer is closely monitoring pilots being undertaken in these other jurisdictions.
The ACT’s COVID-19 pathway forward has guided the ACT’s transition from lockdown into COVID-normal. A range of restrictions were eased on 15 October, providing businesses and the community with the opportunity to reopen and reconnect.
On 29 October, restrictions were eased further, allowing for increased social gatherings and density limits within businesses, including hospitality, retail and organised events. Due to our excellent progress, this morning we announced that the government will bring forward further easing of measures relating to gatherings and business restrictions.
This reflects the positive vaccination rates in the community. Measures that were planned for implementation on 26 November 2021 are now planned to be implemented from 11.59 pm on 11 November 2021. These include the following measures. Face masks will only be required to be worn in high-risk settings, on public transport, in indoor spaces at a school, an early childhood education and care setting, and in certain business settings, including front-of-house hospitality staff. There will be no limits on the number of visitors to a household. There will be no limits on the number of people permitted to attend an informal outdoor gathering, such as a picnic. Organised events must comply with relevant event restrictions.
Density limits for the majority of businesses and activities will be eased to 25 people being permitted across a venue before the density limit of one person per two square metres in an indoor space applies. In most circumstances, there will be no density limits in outdoor spaces. Patrons will be permitted to eat and drink while standing,
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