Canberra has recorded three new cases of coronavirus just hours after the city entered a snap seven day lockdown after one case of Covid-19 emerged in the ACT.
The three new cases of the virus are all close contacts of the man aged in his 20s residing in Gungahlin who earlier tested positive for the virus.
The territory confirmed its first case of the virus in over a year as ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced a strict seven day lockdown during a media conference on Thursday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has responded to the new cases by declaring the ACT a hotspot from 1am on Saturday, August 14.
ACT residents are set to plunge into a seven day snap lockdown after a confirmed case of Covid-19
Anyone who arrives in Queensland from the ACT from 1am on Saturday will be required to enter hotel quarantine for 14 days.
Ms Palaszczuk added that anyone who has returned to Queensland from the ACT between 5pm on Thursday and 1am on Saturday must immediately undergo mandatory home quarantine for 14 days.
The same rules apply for anyone who has returned to the Sunshine State from the ACT since August 9. Travellers must remain in quarantine for 14 days since arriving in Queensland or since August 9, whichever is shorter.
Ms Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders experiencing symptoms, however mild, to get tested and isolate immediately.
‘All Queenslanders are urged not to travel to the ACT at this time,’ the premier wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
Minister Barr said the seven day lockdown will begin from 5pm on Thursday as shoppers fled to supermarkets eager to stock up on supplies ahead of the deadline.
Under the snap lockdown residents are still able to leave their homes for essential groceries and supplies but Minister Barr said the use of CBR check-in codes was ‘critical’.
‘The virus only transmits when people move around and the objective here is to reduce the transmission that is why we are entering a lockdown,’ Barr said.
‘It is critical to follow the public health orders over the next seven days, now is not the time to be popping over to mum and dad’s or your sister’s or brother’s please stay at home.’
He also confirmed masks would be made mandatory outside the home with exemptions around health conditions and exercise.
ACT Minister Andrew Barr confirmed Canberra will enter a seven day lockdown starting from 5pm Thursday
‘When in doubt have your mask on, this is essential as a further risk reduction measure,’ he said.
Testing clinics have been expanded in Exhibition Park with close contacts being encouraged to get tested immediately.
‘We are asking Canberrans to be patient,’ Barr said.
With expected longer wait hours for Covid-19 testing times as demand increases.
ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman confirmed the decision came as positive virus fragments were detected in wastewater on Tuesday night.
Dr Coleman revealed a man in his 20s residing in Gungahlin tested positive for the virus after an extensive time spent in the community while infectious.
The man had visited several venues including Canberra outlet centre, a JBHIFI, a pub and a Coles supermarket with all sites considered close contact venues.
Officials have been unable to trace the source of the infection, posing the most serious public health risk the territory has seen in over 12 months.
‘This is by far the most serious public health risk the ACT has faced in the past 12 months, and that’s why the ACT is entering a strict lockdown in response to this positive case,’ Minister Barr said.
Minister bar confirmed the territory would act ‘quickly and decisively after the outbreak in Greater Sydney.
‘We have seen that a short and immediate lockdown limits the potential spread of the virus, and is the best path to avoiding longer and more damaging lockdowns.’
ACT residents have not faced a lockdown since April last year, which lasted for five weeks.
Canberrans are only allowed to leave their homes for essential groceries and supplies, essential employment which can’t be done at home and healthcare including vaccination
Minister Andrew Barr said the raft of lockdown restrictions were taken as a precautionary measure due to the unknown source of the positive Covid-19 case.
During the snap lockdown residents are only allowed to leave their homes for essential groceries and supplies, essential employment which can’t be done at home and healthcare including vaccination, with the use of CBR check-in codes remaining critical during this period.
General retail will be closed but hospitality venues will be able to offer takeaway service.
Minister Andrew Barr said the use of CBR check-in codes were critical for the territory during this lockdown
Childcare will remain open for parents and guardians who need to undertake essential work or study.
ACT Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry outlined how public schools will work over the next seven days saying, ‘If you can keep your children at home, you must keep your children at home.’
Essential workers, vulnerable members of the community or parents unable to keep their children at home are still able to send them to their local public school.
In the meantime public school teachers are preparing for a transition to online remote education.
‘That means normal schooling won’t happen during this week’ Berry said
Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman and Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry joined Minister Barr at midday’s press conference after the ACT government’s cabinet met for an emergency meeting Wednesday morning.
Canberra has entered a ‘pause and assess’ period under a plan developed the ACT government amid Sydney’s Covid-19 outbreak.
This comes as the NSW Government announced a lockdown for eight additional local government areas overnight.
The seven day lockdown now applies to the following LGAs of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett and Warren.
On Thursday NSW has recorded 345 new cases of and two deaths of men in their 90s – as more suburbs are slapped with harsher restrictions in Sydney’s west.
It is the territory’s first confirmed Covid-19 case in more than a year