24 June 2021

ACT Health not concerned about close contact visiting Kingston Hotel

| Dominic Giannini
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The Kingston Hotel where a man died following an altercation on Sunday night.

The Kingston Hotel. Photo: Michael Weaver.

ACT Health says it is not currently concerned that a man who has been identified as a close contact visited the Kingston Hotel last night (Wednesday, 23 June) for a function attended by MPs and a large number of political staffers.

The man originally attended an event on Tuesday with NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall. Mr Marshall has since tested positive for COVID-19.

A News Corp article today (24 June) described Canberra on the “verge of a COVID crisis”, but ACT Health said there is no additional risk to the community as the man has not tested positive.

“ACT Health is in regular contact with NSW Health and will always update the community if there is any potential risk of COVID-19, including new exposure sites or positive cases in the ACT,” an ACT Government spokesperson said.

“There are no positive cases in the ACT or new exposure locations at this time.

“With significant movement between the ACT and NSW, there is always a risk of people having been in contact with a positive COVID-19 case. Any person who is contacted by a health official should follow the health advice and guidance provided to them.”

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was also at the event and has since tested negative. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was late to Question Time today after being in contact with someone who was identified as a close contact.

He was cleared by deputy chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd to attend the chamber as he was not a close contact.

The man is being treated like every other close or casual contact and has not warranted concern unless a positive result is returned.

The man has been ordered to isolate by NSW Health and has taken a COVID-19 test.

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