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Friday, March 29, 2024

ACT COVID-19 case toll set to breach 1000

ACT health authorities have warned a drop in COVID-19 cases does not mean the worst is over and people should not become complacent.

The nation’s capital looks set to breach the 1000-mark for coronavirus cases in this outbreak on Monday.

The territory reported 38 new cases on Sunday, bringing the outbreak tally above 970, but Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith pointed out this was still larger than the daily numbers seen for a majority of days during the lockdown.

This was after record case levels of 52 on both of the previous two days. 

“What we have seen, it is very difficult to talk about trends on even two or three days’ data, even a week’s data, because we are such a small population in size,” she told reporters in Canberra on Sunday.

Authorities called for Canberrans to stick to the lockdown rules this long holiday weekend and hoped they did not participate in large gatherings to watch the NRL grand final on Sunday.

The ACT celebrates Labour Day on Monday.

Of the 38 new cases reported on Sunday, 24 were linked to current exposure sites and 14 were in quarantine during their entire infectious period, and at least 16 spent part of their infectious period in the community.

There are 14 people in hospital with COVID-19, five in intensive care and three requiring ventilation.

On the Canberra Hospital exposure site, Ms Stephen-Smith said there were three cases – one in its food services team, one patient and one hospital worker.

She said hundreds of staff and patients had tested negative, while more than 100 healthcare workers were currently in quarantine for between five and 14 days based on exposure risk.

“Canberrans can be assured that this situation is being expertly handled and they absolutely should feel safe to attend hospital should they require a hospital service,” she said.

AAP

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