ACT government considers fast-tracked eased restrictions as vaccination rate hits 95%

A decision to fast track the easing of restrictions could be made on Monday despite more Canberra schools being exposed to positive cases of COVID-19.

A small number of positive cases have been identified at nine schools across Canberra, with the further five campuses listed as exposure sites on Sunday morning. A further three - Canberra Girls Grammar, St Clare's College and Lanyon school - were added on Monday morning.

The number of cases linked to the Wanniassa School junior campus cluster has grown to 39.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr's emergency cabinet will meet on Monday afternoon to consider health advice on bringing forward the date to further ease restrictions, which had been slated for November 26.

Limits on household and outdoor gatherings would be scrapped and capacity restrictions at hospitality venues further eased, under the next stage of Canberra's road out of lockdown.

Masks would only need to be worn in "high-risk" indoor settings.

The cabinet meeting, which will include a briefing from chief health officer Kerryn Coleman, will be held after the ACT's vaccination rate for people aged over 12 reached 95 per cent.

Mr Barr expected the double-dose rate would reach 99 per cent later this month.

The hospitality sector and Canberra Liberals have been increasing pressure on the Barr government to lift restrictions as NSW prepares to ease its rules from Monday.

Australian Hotels Association ACT branch general manager Anthony Brierley wanted the ACT government to immediately lift all density and capacity limits on hospitality venues, in recognition of Canberra's nation-leading vaccination rates.

But Mr Brierley said it was more likely that the government would elect to bring its capacity rules in line with NSW.

From Monday, booking limits will be removed for pubs and restaurants in NSW, although venues will still be subject to the one-person-per-two-square-metre rule. Patrons require proof of vaccination to enter venues in NSW, unlike in the ACT.

Mr Brierley said an easing of restrictions in line with NSW would allow ACT venues to turn a profit for the first time since Canberra was plunged into lockdown in mid-August.

He said eased restrictions must come into effect before the start of next weekend, allowing venues to cash in on their busiest trading days.

Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee, who is in Glasgow for the COP26 summit, used social media to implore Mr Barr to bring restrictions into line with NSW.

The ACT reported 13 new cases on Sunday. There is only one person hospitalised with COVID-19, although they are in intensive care and on a ventilator.

Five new schools were added to the list of exposure sites on Sunday morning; Melrose High School, Orana Steiner School, Namadgi High School, Holy Family School and Erindale College.

ACT Health was unable to provide specific figures on the number of cases linked to each of the schools, telling The Canberra Times that in many situations it was impossible to do so because the situation was constantly evolving.

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It did however, confirm that a small number of cases - fewer than five - had been identified at each of Namadgi School, St Anthony's Parish Primary School, Wanniassa School senior campus, Gordon Primary School, Ainslie School, Melrose High School, Orana Steiner School, Holy Family School and Erindale College.

It said Waniassa's junior campus was, as of Sunday evening, the only school site where transmission had occurred on campus.

The 39 cases linked to the cluster includes close and household contacts.

In a statement, ACT Health said the emergence of cases at schools was "not unexpected".

"As restrictions continue to be eased we are going to see more cases and more transmission of COVID-19 in the community, including in schools," the statement read.

"Our focus remains on identifying cases early in settings such as primary schools where children are ineligible for vaccination, and acting quickly to limit COVID transmission."

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