Page 41 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 8 February 2022
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The ACT government has now secured significant additional RATs, and some of these are being distributed to our own essential workforce, as well as workers who provide support to vulnerable people in the ACT. These RATs will be distributed by the government over the coming weeks, and the Community Services Directorate will work closely with our community partners to ensure that vulnerable people and non-government-sector workers receive these tests.
The National Rapid Antigen Testing Concessional Access Program commenced on 24 January and will provide eligible concession cardholders, including low-income health card, pensioner concession card and Department of Veterans’ Affairs gold, white or orange cardholders, with a maximum of 10 RATs over three months free of charge. The establishment of this program was agreed to by national cabinet, with costs to be shared equally between the commonwealth and states and territories under the national partnership agreement.
On 24 January the ACT government released its ACT public schools return to school plan. The plan was in line with the advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the ACT government health guidelines for schools and early childhood education and care, including out of school hours care.
The ACT government acknowledges that COVID-19 will not be able to be kept out of our schools. However, a range of risk mitigation strategies have been put in place and key COVID-safe behaviours are encouraged to limit the spread of COVID-19 and limit disruption to the school year. The Deputy Chief Minister, Ms Berry, will have more to say about this in her statement.
To support the return to face-to-face learning, the ACT government will be distributing 200,000 rapid antigen tests to schools each week for the first four weeks. This has been a major logistical exercise, and I would like to thank all involved—in particular, the staff and volunteers at the Emergency Services Agency who have supported the packaging and delivery of these tests. ACT Health will continue to work with the Education Directorate to support school communities as the term progresses so that learning environments are as safe as possible.
In an attempt to slow the rate of transmission in the ACT and minimise outbreaks in high-risk settings, some public health measures have been reintroduced by the Chief Health Officer since my last update. With effect from 11.59 pm on 21 December 2021, all individuals aged 12 years and over are required to wear a face mask in indoor public settings, including public transport, taxis and rideshare vehicles. Visitor restrictions for residential aged-care facilities were also introduced at this time, with residents permitted to have only five visitors per day, with a maximum of five visitors at any one time, except for end-of-life visits.
In late December 2021 the ACT government also strongly recommended that individuals should continue to work from home throughout January 2022 when it suited them and their employer, while recognising that some employees needed to return to the workplace to meet business needs or for their own wellbeing.
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