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Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith announced the change to quarantine restrictions today. Photo: Dominic Giannini.
Quarantine was lifted for more than 2,600 Queenslanders in the ACT today provided they return a negative COVID-19 test.
People who had been in the Greater Brisbane area since 15 March were forced into self-isolation following the announcement on Monday (29 March) that travel was restricted between the ACT and Queensland due to COVID-19.
Around 70 per cent of people in isolation have been tested and returned negative results, the ACT’s Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Vanessa Johnston said.
The ACT followed Queensland in lifting restrictions today after Greater Brisbane was sent into a three-day snap lockdown on Monday following community transmission linked to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The virus entered the community via two unvaccinated frontline workers who were working at the hospital.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the timing of the outbreak was unfortunate as just under 90 per cent of frontline staff had been vaccinated when the outbreak was identified.
Under a new mandate, all frontline healthcare workers dealing with COVID-19 in Queensland must have had the vaccination.
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said staff who work in the ACT’s hotel quarantine program will need to be vaccinated before the next repatriation flight arrives in the Territory.
Around 85 per cent of workers in the ACT’s hotel quarantine program were vaccinated by Wednesday (31 March).
The number for frontline health staff who had been vaccinated was lower, with around 70 per cent of 4000 workers eligible under Phase 1A having received at least one dose.
As of Wednesday night, more than 11,300 people have been vaccinated in the ACT.