Canberra to go into snap seven day lockdown. What does it mean for students?

By Tom Kersten

Andrew Barr confirmed a snap 7 day lockdown will start from 5pm today due to a positive case who was infectious in the community since Sunday morning, saying “This is by far the most serious public health risk the ACT has faced in the past 12 months.”

Minister Barr said a lockdown was “the best path to pursue.”

Overnight, a positive COVID-19 case was discovered in Canberra. The first in over a year with the last recorded case in July 2020. To date, the ACT has recorded just 124 confirmed cases, the lowest in the entire country.

The source of the infection is currently unknown, though it has “been infectious in the community”. Fragments of COVID have also been detected in Canberra’s wastewater system.

The only reasons residents will be allowed to leave their homes are for essential reasons:

• Essential employment
• Healthcare (including for COVID-19 Vaccination)
• Essential groceries and supplies
• One hour of exercise per day

Barr implores that everyone “stays in their local areas for their exercise and essential supplies.”

Wearing a mask will be mandatory when leaving your place of residence, except when undertaking heavy exercise. Mask wearing is mandatory on campus. 

A new testing clinic will be set up at the Brindabella Business Park and will be operational later today.

Testing capacity and operating hours will be significantly increased at the Weston Creek Walk-In Centre and EPIC drive through testing clinic.

The university’s website states “If the ACT Government announces a lockdown, all staff and students will move to remote work and study.”

For students living on-campus, the university says to “Await advice from your residential hall or college (via email) about what living on campus during a lockdown will look like.”

The on-campus open day, which was scheduled for this Saturday, will be cancelled.  

Minister Barr said “General retail will be closed, and hospitality venues will only be able to operate takeaway services.”

More to come.

Update: Close Contact Locations (1:18pm)