Page 1469 - Week 06 - Thursday, 2 July 2020
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there were some instances of non-compliance observed over the first weekend of eased restrictions, particularly at some large licensed premises, as well as local restaurants and other businesses, this has improved significantly over the most recent weekend. No fines have been issued, as Access Canberra, ACT Policing and health protection services continue to take an “educate and engage” approach to compliance.
Thanks to the continued good work of the Canberra community and local businesses, the Chief Health Officer is still planning to further ease restrictions from 10 July, as we enter stage 3 of our recovery plan. Stage 3 easing of restrictions has now been carefully considered, and the government will make further announcements on this shortly. The Chief Health Officer will continue to closely monitor data and disease trends through the decision checkpoints.
As restrictions continue to be eased, there remains a responsibility on businesses to continue to do the right thing and ensure that they are following their COVID safety plans—just as individuals need to be responsible, for instance by staying home if we are feeling unwell.
This Friday and Saturday, 3 and 4 July, will see a return to spectator events at GIO Stadium for the Canberra Raiders and Brumbies games. The Chief Health Officer has been satisfied to grant an exemption for these events, following consideration of Venues Canberra’s proposals to allow up to 1,500 general admission spectators to attend, as well as some additional attendees in separate corporate boxes. The one person per four square metres and 1.5-metre social distancing rules can be safely applied with a crowd of this size.
The limit on attendees excludes those working at the events, such as ground staff, sporting players, coaching staff and security personnel. General admission attendees will be seated in appropriately spaced areas, and corporate attendees will be permitted to spectate from enclosed corporate spaces, observing physical distancing requirements.
Events in large venues can carry risk of COVID-19 transmission because of large crowds; crowding and queuing; people in close proximity mixing; loud volume speech, cheering and singing; and people travelling from interstate or regional areas. The Chief Health Officer considered these risk factors, which is why the number of spectators for this event is capped to limit the risk of COVID-19 infection and transmission and provide a safe environment for spectators, staff and players.
I would like to assure the community that Venues Canberra is undertaking thorough risk assessment and risk management for these events and will be following its COVID safe business plan to ensure that games proceed safely. Venues Canberra has applied learnings from other recently piloted football events interstate to limit mixing and interaction between spectators and event staff, to reduce risks and ensure that adequate transport, security, cleaning and hygiene procedures are in place. We will use learnings from these events to guide future considerations for events and larger gatherings in stage 3 of our recovery plan and beyond.
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