Support measures to help struggling tenants have now been extended until 13 May 2022. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
ACT Health is today reporting an additional 375 new cases of COVID-19 in the ACT, taking the total active cases to 2453. There were 458 new cases reported yesterday.
The ACT Government has also announced that a suite of measures to help renters through the pandemic has been extended until mid-May.
Impacted tenants who fell behind on rent during the moratorium will now be protected from eviction until 13 May 2022, provided rent is paid as it falls due, Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said on Saturday (12 February).
Anyone required to quarantine or self-isolate in response to a public health direction can also not be asked to leave their property during that time.
Mr Rattenbury added that the government’s Rental Relief Fund, which provides grants of up to $1000 to people experiencing rental stress or severe financial hardship, is also still operating. It’s provided more than 70 grants since its launch on 26 November 2021.
“Despite lockdown ending and our graduated return to normal life in the ACT, many renters still face pressures, including from financial pressures that built up during the lockdown period,” Mr Rattenbury said.
Relaxed check-in requirements also came into effect over the weekend (11:59 pm, 11 February). It’s now only mandatory for Canberrans to check into venues considered high-risk, such as nightclubs, licensed bars and schools.
Health authorities say the app will soon be updated to allow for automated exposure notifications, too.
There are currently 51 people in ACT hospitals with COVID, including four in ICU and two requiring ventilation.
Yesterday, there were 50 people in hospital, with four in the ICU and two being ventilated.
The vaccination rate for the ACT’s 12-plus population remains 98.6 per cent, and 60.6 per cent of residents aged 16 and older have received a booster.
Of ACT residents aged 5 to 11, 75.9 per cent have received one dose.
Interstate case numbers remain stable and hospitalisations continue to fall.
NSW has reported 14 deaths overnight and 6184 new cases (4040 RAT and 2144 PCR).
There are now 1649 people in hospital and 100 people in ICUs around the state.
Victoria has reported two deaths overnight and an additional 7104 cases of COVID-19 from 5046 RATs and 2058 PCR tests.
There are now 465 people hospitalised with the virus in the state.
The state’s Code Brown lifts at midday today, which will allow more people to undergo elective surgeries in hospitals.
Last month, a Code Brown emergency declaration was imposed as Victoria’s healthcare system became overwhelmed by a surge in Omicron cases coupled with staff shortages due to quarantine requirements.
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