ACT ends lockdown after more than nine weeks, as territory records 35 new local cases
The Australian Capital Territory has recorded 35 new local cases of COVID-19, after residents woke up to eased restrictions.
Stay-at-home orders ended at midnight, following a nine-week lockdown.
Today's cases were diagnosed from almost 3500 tests.
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A statue of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies seen wearing a face mask, along Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Sydney Morning Herald
There are 16 people currently in hospital, with eight people in intensive care.
The ACT was plunged into lockdown amid COVID-19 cases on August 12 as one case grew to three.
Cafes, restaurants, pubs, gyms and hairdressers are allowed to open for business once again in the ACT after restrictions lifted at midnight.
Households are also able to welcome five visitors and 25 people are allowed to gather outside.
Residents from the territory are also now allowed to enter New South Wales but will be subject to the same rules, meaning travel into Greater Sydney isn't allowed without a reasonable excuse.
There are currently 492 active cases and 860 people have recovered.
Ten people in the territory have died with the virus since the start of the pandemic.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr during a press conference in Canberra. Sydney Morning Herald
The area has the highest vaccination rate in the country.
A total of 98.8 per cent are fully vaccinated - with Canberra on track to become the most vaccinated city in the world.
In a message on Twitter ACT Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman thanked residents for sticking to the rules.
"I am grateful for all our community who have trusted the public health advice and have been prepared to cooperate with our public health social measures and give us the opportunity to get as many people protected as possible before we move forward," she said.
"It has also had a significant effect on our local organisations and businesses and I really do acknowledge that we have a long way to go in recovering from this. We recognise this, and thank you."
Kayakers on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra Getty
Melbourne and Mildura in Victoria are now the only jurisdictions in the country still under stay-at-home orders.
Meanwhile, Sydneysiders will have to wait a little longer to travel into the NSW regions with crisis cabinet pushing back the reopening date for at least another week despite the 80 per cent target imminent.
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