ACT Chief Minister refuses to respond if lockdown is on track after registering 26 new Covid cases

The chances of ACT coming out of lockdown remain uncertain, with 26 new cases of Covid-19 acquired locally and six of them without a known source.

“I don’t have an answer today,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr told reporters on Saturday when asked if the restrictions would be lifted as planned on Thursday.

“We need to know more about the six cases today, we need to see what tomorrow’s numbers look like and what Monday’s numbers look like,” he said.

“As I have said several times since this podium, we are the most interested and the most focused not on the number of cases, but contagious in the community.”

The territory has now recorded 237 cases of the virus in total. Four of them are fully recovered.

ACT chief health worker Kerry Coleman said 20 of the infections reported within 24 hours through Friday evening were linked to existing clusters or cases, and 15 were in quarantine while they were infectious.

However, seven were in the community for at least part of the time and the status of four is under investigation.

Dr Coleman says 10 infected residents remain in the hospital, including one who is critically ill in intensive care.

She said there are 1,800 self-identified close contacts in quarantine while more than 2,800 casual contacts have been identified as well as 214 exhibition locations scattered across Canberra.

The territory carried out 2,937 tests for the virus on Friday while the police carried out more than a thousand road checks.

The ACT hopes to cross the 80% complete vaccination mark with the opening of a mass clinic next week.

The AIS Arena clinic will replace the Garran center on September 3, delivering up to 24,000 Pfizer images per week depending on supply.

Canberra already has the best vaccination rate in the country, with 64.8% of adults receiving a first dose on Saturday and 41.0% a second.

Mr Barr says the inoculation program is his top priority over the next three months.

“The balance that we have to achieve from here to 80% and beyond… is going to be very difficult,” he said.

He said the challenge would be to promulgate public health guidance while “wanting to ensure that there is a certain level of economic activity and that people have the opportunity to have a higher level of activity. important than at present “.

The ACT government, in partnership with local GPs and pharmacies, would do everything possible to provide vaccines to all eligible Canberrans, including 12 to 15 year olds, Barr said.

Reservations made at the Garran center will automatically be transferred to the new AIS Arena clinic.

The ACT reported 21 new coronavirus infections on Friday.

In the meantime, small retailers and non-essential retailers can have two people on site for contactless delivery and click and collect orders.

Large, essential retailers, such as stores selling hardware and building supplies, are limited to delivery or click and collect for everyone except commercial customers.

The change follows concern over the number of people traveling to Bunnings, which recorded 19,000 registrations in a single day.

Construction work is also expected to resume gradually from Friday.