Post-Christmas rise in ACT COVID cases expected: Kerryn Coleman

Dr Kerryn Coleman said while she was impressed case numbers had remained low since the territory's lockdown lifted, COVID-19 numbers were expected to increase in the new year.

"The very high vaccination level that we have achieved here and that NSW is achieving is something that is unprecedented and we're really charging ahead in uncharted waters at the moment," she said.

"It's very promising, but we do still need to be careful.

"I still think we will see an increase in cases post the Christmas and January school holidays and would probably anticipate that once school goes back next year."

There were 12 new cases reported in the ACT in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday.

Authorities are continuing to battle growing outbreaks among Canberra schools and a cluster at an aged care facility.

There are now five schools where transmission has been identified. There have been 56 cases linked to Wanniassa School and nine cases linked to Duffy Primary School. Erindale College, Mawson Primary and Orana Steiner School have all had fewer than five cases.

A total of 20 schools have been affected by a COVID case since November 1.

There are no new cases associated with St Andrews residential aged care in Hughes. There have been five cases associated with the site and Dr Coleman said both staff and residents had tested positive. She said while it was a concern the high levels of vaccination were reassuring.

"We have very high levels of vaccination in both residents and staff and I think this is one of the things we need to get used to as part of COVID normal," she said.

"Any infectious disease in an aged care facility is a concern but it is reassuring that there has been limited spread so far."

Dr Coleman said personal responsibility, particularly as the territory would seek to wind back some public health directions as the ACT moves further towards COVID-normal.

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"Definitely people in the ACT have been very cooperative with what we ask them to do but it is a time of personal responsibility and also learning how to live with COVID," she said.

"Moving forward we'll be progressively stepping back some of those mandatory or public health directions as we need to or as we can moving forward."

The ACT has also changed how hospitalised cases are reported to include people who have been cleared from isolation.

It emerged last week that authorities only counted people in hospital who had an active case of the virus, regardless of whether they were still being treated from symptoms of the COVID-19.

But figures will now include every patient regardless of whether they have an active case or not following a resolution from national cabinet last week.

There are four people in Canberra hospitals being treated for COVID-19. One is in intensive care and is on a ventilator.

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