Page 1468 - Week 06 - Thursday, 2 July 2020
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and high-risk settings, such as residential aged-care facilities, hospitals and correction and detention facilities.
Our Chief Health Officer and her team are in close contact with their Victorian counterparts and are continually assessing the evidence to ensure that appropriate actions are taken by government to protect the community. At this time, the following advice has been issued to Canberrans in regard to travel to and from Melbourne. Do not travel to the identified hotspot areas. Reconsider your need to travel to greater metropolitan Melbourne, and only travel to Melbourne if it is really necessary. If you have returned from any of the hotspot areas, do not visit anyone in an aged-care facility, hospital or other high-risk setting such as correctional facilities and disability accommodation for a period of 14 days from leaving the hotspot area. Similarly, if you have returned from any of the hotspot areas and work in a high-risk setting, do not return to work for 14 days after leaving the hotspot. If you have recently returned from Melbourne, be extra vigilant for any symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested if you develop even mild symptoms.
We have provided this advice to Canberrans to reduce the risk to our community at this time. We know that Canberrans have by and large followed the Chief Health Officer’s advice diligently to date, which is why we have found ourselves in such a strong position. While this new advice will no doubt disrupt some school holiday travel plans, we really urge Canberrans to take it seriously so that we can continue to implement Canberra’s recovery plan and not risk going backwards.
As we have discussed a number of times in this place, our recovery plan reflects the nationally agreed three-step framework for a COVID safe Australia. States and territories are following this framework and implementing the changes in line with their current public health situation and conditions and informed by risk assessments and changing epidemiology. Our road map allows sufficient time between each stage to provide for decision “checkpoints” to enable us to monitor and assess the public health impacts before any final decisions on further easing restrictions are made, to ensure the safety of the community before we move to the next stage.
During my last update to the Assembly, I provided an update on the planned implementation of stage 2.2 of Canberra’s recovery plan from noon on 19 June 2020. I am pleased to advise members that implementation of stage 2 has progressed well in the ACT. The move to step 2.2 has seen gathering sizes being allowed to increase to up to 100 people, from 20.
As restrictions are gradually eased, the government is working closely with businesses and industries to assist their safe reopening. The ACT government proactively communicated with relevant businesses and industries prior to stage 2.2 restrictions taking effect to allow them to prepare for the changes. Inspectors have actively provided information to premises in the lead-up to the changes. Their focus has been to engage with businesses and support their understanding of the requirements.
Madam Speaker, the vast majority of businesses have been diligent in developing and implementing their COVID safety plans to support the safety of the community and their staff, and to ensure that the ACT continues its suppression of COVID-19. While
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