Page 1304 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 June 2020
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overseas and we are confident that this case has posed no broader risk to the ACT community. A small number of close contacts are also quarantining.
What this most recent case should do is remind all of us is that the pandemic is not over and the risk to our community remains real. We continue to see new cases in neighbouring jurisdictions, with an ongoing risk of cases and clusters. However, the situation across Australia is promising, with reduced numbers of confirmed cases over recent weeks, and all jurisdictions are well placed to manage small outbreaks.
Testing is one of the key factors in guiding decisions around the easing of public health measures and also provides a good overview of the ACT situation. Testing rates remain appropriate in the ACT. More than 24,300 negative tests had been recorded as of 17 June.
Madam Speaker, while we are in a very strong position, we know that there is no vaccine for COVID-19 and that the pandemic continues to have significant impacts across the world.
As we move through Canberra’s recovery plan, we must continue to balance the risk of easing restrictions with the risk of undetected chains of virus transmission and ensure that we have the capacity to respond quickly to new cases. Our dedicated communicable diseases control team remains on hand to quickly detect any new cases, should they arise, and undertake thorough contact tracing. The Chief Health Officer is keeping me advised of the situation and has presented me with the latest report on the status of the public health emergency due to COVID-19. I will table this report with my statement today.
The report recommends that the declaration of a public health emergency in the ACT due to COVID-19 remain in place until 7 July, subject to ongoing review. This advice remains consistent with the emergency status other states and territories continue to observe and the commonwealth’s COVID-19 biosecurity emergency declaration, which is in place until 17 September 2020. We are all moving forward cautiously, as we do not want to undo the good work to date.
In that regard, I want to again thank the Canberra community and our businesses for continuing to follow the health advice and public health directions. We have made excellent progress in suppressing the virus in the ACT and we want this to continue. We need to remember our responsibilities and keep listening to the health advice. Continuing this vigilance will help to prevent the possibility of a resurgence of cases.
As restrictions are gradually eased, the government continues to focus on keeping our community safe. We are focused, because we know that an evidence-based approach to relaxing restrictions will ensure that our businesses can reopen and our economy can recover with confidence. That is why the government is working so closely with local businesses and industries to assist their safe reopening. Canberra businesses have worked incredibly hard to look after their staff and to reopen safely. As we have said before, and as we have heard from the business community, particularly small business, reopening too fast, seeing a resurgence in cases and then having to shut down again would be absolutely devastating.
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