Page 2130 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 2 August 2022
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This package will be finalised as soon as possible following the co-design process. I now table the Chief Health Officer’s 28th and 29th reports on the status of the public health emergency due to COVID-19:
Status of the Public Health Emergency due to COVID-19—Chief Health Officer Reports—
No 28—1 July 2022, dated 6 July 2022.
No 29—28 July 2022, dated 28 July 2022.
The reports cover the actions taken by the Chief Health Officer and the ACT government’s COVID-19 response for 60 days up to 29 July 2022. The Chief Health Officer will continue to review the epidemiological situation to ensure that the COVID-19 response remains appropriate.
Unfortunately, it remains the case that the current epidemiological situation is uncertain. While there is some positive news in relation to the pressure being faced by the ACT’s health system, COVID-19 case numbers, while coming down at the moment, continue to remain high. This is consistent with the experience of other jurisdictions at present.
In her most recent report, the Chief Health Officer has advised the ACT government that the public health emergency declaration, currently due to expire on 11 August, should be extended for a further 60 days while the ACT continues to move through the winter period and responds to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
The government will consider the Chief Health Officer’s advice and I will provide a further update on the extension of the public health emergency later this week. It is envisaged that once we move out of this current uncertain winter period, we will look to step down from a public health emergency declaration and transition to a COVID-19 management declaration framework while there continues to be a level of risk to the community.
The ACT has long been preparing for the winter period and the uncertain scenario we are currently facing. While we continue to see high case numbers, the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our community remains a priority. The ACT government has responded strongly to COVID-19 over the past two years, and we continue to do so.
The government appreciates that the community may be fatigued by the COVID-19 situation. However, I ask all Canberrans to continue to adhere to the public health advice and practice COVID smart behaviours to help keep themselves, and their loved ones, safe from COVID-19.
I present the following papers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)—ACT Government response—Update—Ministerial statement, 2 August 2022.
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