ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman says despite a predicted rise in COVID-19 cases, reintroduction of a mask mandate is not currently being considered.
Canberrans have been warned that daily COVID-19 case numbers in the territory are likely to rise, possibly as much as tripling in the coming weeks.New modelling suggests Omicron subvariants could see the ACT's daily COVID-19 case numbers triple by next month
ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said at a press conference on Monday that daily case numbers were expected to peak in late July or early August. Canberra Health Services chief Dave Peffer said their staffing was causing a serious strain on their ability to provide the community medical assistance.
Dr Coleman said with the likely rise in case numbers in the coming weeks, now was the time for Canberrans to get back to their COVID-safe behaviours. "As a community we have worked really hard to get back to a relatively normal way of doing things where we can safely enjoy all the things that we love, and now is the time to refocus these efforts."
"My feeling is that more Canberrans will step up, realise that we're heading in to serious part of this COVID experience, and take on the need to wear masks moving forward."President of the ACT branch of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Simon Blacker, said he had seen a high take-up of second boosters since the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation last week recommended that Australians aged 30 and up receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccination.
"This greater cohort being eligible [will] see probably longer wait times now coming for appointments, so I'd ask that the community be patient, you will be able to get your vaccination at some stage, but it just may take a week or two or three longer than you might have thought."
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