Australian Capital Territory records nine new cases of COVID-19
The Australian Capital Territory has recorded nine new cases of coronavirus, with eight linked to current outbreaks while one remains under investigation.
At least four people were infectious in the community.
One person remains in intensive care in a critical condition, with seven people in total in Canberra Hospital.
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Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the vaccine program was "going as fast as it can" but warned levels are far too low to protect the community as a whole. 9News
More than 4000 people came forward to get vaccinated yesterday.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the vaccine program was "going as fast as it can" but warned levels are far too low to protect the community as a whole.
He said the people getting vaccinated remains the territory's "number one priority".
Today's figures are a drop from yesterday's 30 new infections.
"These numbers are still going to jump from day to day," he said.
There are now more than 10,000 close contacts in quarantine and more than 400 exposure sites across the ACT.
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Health authorities have today added the Canberra Institute of Technology in Reid as a new exposure site.
Close to 7000 people came forward for testing yesterday, a result Mr Barr called "excellent".
No early exit but lockdown changes 'being considered'
The lockdown across the ACT will not end early, Mr Barr said.
The current stay-at-home orders were due to end on September 2 but that is looking unlikely, he said.
The public health orders are now being reviewed for the week ahead, Mr Barr said.
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A walker wearing a mask beside Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Getty
"Now is not the time to be significantly easing restrictions however, some changes are being considered and these changes will seek to balance risk across the community," he said.
Mr Barr hinted at what will be needed to end the current lockdown.
"A good indicator is no-one infectious in the community for any period of time and no mystery cases," he said.
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"We will come out of this gently, week by week, as we continue to get our vaccination rate up."
Any changes to lockdown will be announced before the weekend.
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