Canberra has recorded its first case of coronavirus in more than 100 days.
ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman today announced a diplomat, who had recently returned from overseas, tested positive for COVID-19 on the tenth day of his self-quarantine.
Live Coronavirus Updates: Hundreds 'locked up' in quarantine after school outbreaks
The man, aged in his 70s, had travelled from Sydney to Canberra by a private vehicle, and had been in close contact with two people, who ACT Health haven't yet spoken to.
Diplomats are currently exempt from hotel quarantine requirements.
Dr Kerry Coleman said the risk of exposure was "very, very, low".
"I'm surprised how long it has been before Canberra has got a new case," she said.
"We've been expecting new cases.
"This new case demonstrates that our quarantine system in the ACT is working well to protect the community from COVID-19.
"But it is also a timely reminder that COVID-19 still poses a risk to the ACT and situation can change quickly.
There hadn't been any new COVID-19 cases in Canberra since July.
There are currently 276 people in quarantine in the ACT, and Dr Coleman said about 20-25 per cent of those people in quarantine are usually diplomats.
Meantime, ACT residents who have travelled to NSW in the past 14 days are urged to keep up to date with the latest health alerts from NSW Health on locations affected by COVID-19.
"This is an important reminder to Canberrans that we are not an isolated bubble from COVID-19," ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.
The ACT has previously had a coronavirus case concerning a diplomat, a man in his 40s, infected with the virus while overseas.
from 9News https://ift.tt/3jljonV
via IFTTT
0 Comments