Let's vaccinate and isolate for freedom

Or, as Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Vanessa Johnston said: "A day of single digit numbers is not a trend, and I would not be surprised if we have double digits again tomorrow."

Given the number of exposure sites is growing by the day, and there are 10,800 self-identified contacts in quarantine, more than 5000 casual contacts, and 176 active cases, it is a given the ACT's case numbers are going to jump around a lot.

That is why, as Chief Minister Andrew Barr and others continue to remind us, vaccination and compliance with the lockdown and isolation rules are so important.

These are the only sure route out of the ACT lockdown which, while due to end on September 2, will almost certainly be extended if new case numbers don't fall.

The good news is Canberrans have been pulling their weight on both counts. Not only is the city leading the country in terms of the number of people who have been vaccinated, it has also led the way in terms of compliance with the lockdown orders.

As of Tuesday, ACT Policing had only issued 12 infringement notices and 36 cautions, a fraction of the numbers in NSW and Victoria despite having undertaken 2280 compliance checks in Canberra residences and businesses since August 12.

The vaccination effort has been even more impressive, with a commendable 4700 jabs administered on Tuesday.

One area of concern is that with 17,000 Canberrans between 16 and 29 now registered for Pfizer, there just isn't enough to go around right now. People booking a Pfizer jab on Tuesday were being told they would not get their first dose until mid-October.

Mr Barr was spot on when he said that with extra doses going to NSW and Victoria, the same courtesy should be extended to the ACT. His observation that a relatively small number of additional doses could make a significant difference in a jurisdiction of this size is incontestable. Given Tuesday's 30 new cases were the equivalent of a 572 case day in NSW, Canberra needs those extra doses right now in order to bring wait times down.

That said, it needs to be remembered there is a plentiful supply of the very safe and very effective AstraZeneca vaccine, which has been approved for anybody over the age of 16 on the proviso they have a chat to a trusted medical professional to ensure it is suitable.

Young Canberrans have been rolling up their sleeves in droves for the AstraZeneca vaccine, and it is to be hoped their efforts will encourage others to join them.

In other coronavirus news, the facile attempt by the NSW Deputy Premier to pick a fight with the ACT over traces of COVID-19 found in Merimbula's sewage is as unedifying as it is unhelpful and absurd. It is laughable for Mr Barilaro to imply he can tell the difference between stools passed by a New South Welshperson and a Canberran. Mr Barr was right not to dignify his comments with a response.

And, while our dedicated health workers are definitely the heroes of the hour, the nation's hard-working teachers, home-schoolers, and students deserve a shout-out as well.

The latest NAPLAN scores indicate students' literacy and numeracy standards have not been significantly impacted by the disruption and chaos wrought on education systems across the country by COVID-19.

That is not an accident. It is the result of teachers, parents and students working together to make the best of a very bad lot. Every one of them deserves congratulations.

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