Page 3094 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 9 November 2021
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As at 9 am on 8 November, there were 1,398 people in quarantine in the ACT being supported by ACT Health, with 1,345 of these individuals identified as close contacts of locally acquired cases and 32 who are individuals from COVID-19 affected areas. Additionally, the ACT is continuing to manage the return of diplomats and government officials travelling to Canberra for official duties.
Strong and effective test, trace, isolate and quarantine measures, known as TTIQ, are a crucial component of our ongoing response to COVID-19. With the ACT’s vaccination coverage surpassing 95 per cent for people aged 12 years and over and the level of risk within the community decreasing, changes have been made to our TTIQ to align these measures with our transition to COVID normal.
ACT Health’s case management process has shortened case interviews for the collection of critical surveillance and case contact information, as it is anticipated that there will be an increased case load as people move around and gather together more. Contact tracing has shifted its focus to household and close contacts of cases, with a particular focus on individuals who have attended high-risk settings during their infectious period.
From 1 November 2021, the second phase of TTIQ changes was implemented, with the aim of minimising transmission within high-risk settings and vulnerable cohorts in the community, while progressively building an understanding and acceptance of moderate community transmission as we move to living with COVID.
The management of close contacts has been revised, based on vaccination status. Fully vaccinated people are only required to quarantine for seven days and undergo testing upon entering quarantine and six days following exposure. In the following seven days, they are encouraged to work from home if possible and are not permitted to attend high-risk settings. They must undergo a final test 13 days after the date of exposure. People who are not fully vaccinated, however, are still required to quarantine for 14 days and follow the associated testing requirements. Quarantine and testing requirements for casual contacts do not differ based on vaccination status.
Casual contacts are now required to complete a declaration form once becoming aware of their exposure, have a COVID-19 test and isolate until they receive a negative result, and then have another test six days after the date of exposure. The previous quarantine and testing requirements for casual contacts have been lifted.
Following the return to face-to-face learning for all students on 1 November, new cases have been associated with several schools across the ACT. In most cases, this represents a potential exposure risk, rather than confirmed transmission in the school environment. ACT Health and the Education Directorate are working closely with impacted staff, students and school communities to provide necessary support and advice while they undergo quarantine and testing.
Although these cases are a concern, they are not unexpected. The government has been preparing for new cases in our school communities as students return to the classroom and while children under 12 years of age remain ineligible to receive a
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