The ACT government has toughened up the controls to try to slow the accelerating spread of COVID. It said further measures may be necessary in the next few days, including the return of restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings.
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Most category two and three elective surgeries at Calvary Public Hospital will be halted for the next six to eight weeks, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.
The sudden tightening of regulations comes with what the Health Minister called "increased pressure" on the health system as more than 200 workers were quarantined.
From noon on Saturday, cafes, bars and nightclubs will only be allowed to operate with all customers seated while eating and drinking. Dancing will not be allowed.
"Nightclubs will be able to operate as bars within existing density limits. Dancing in these venues will not be permitted however," a government statement issued on Friday evening said.
"With COVID-19 cases across the border growing rapidly, and the ACT experiencing more than a thousand new cases today, these measures are necessary to slow the spread of the virus," Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.
"Mandatory face masks, density limits and other public health measures for businesses and indoor venues will also continue.
"Events will continue with ACT Health working closely with event organisers to ensure COVID safety plans are in place."
The ACT government also "strongly advised" Canberrans to consider limiting gatherings indoors, including at home.
"COVID-19 isn't going away and as a community we are learning to live with it," the Health Minister said.
"However, we do need everyone to continue to be responsible in the way they manage their social events through things like minimising the size of gatherings at home and remaining in known social groups when outside of the home.
"If you can hold your gathering outdoors, then please do. If your gathering is indoors, consider how many guests you invite. Keeping these numbers low, along with practising COVID-safe measures such as continuing to wear a mask, physical distancing and good hand hygiene, will help limit the spread of the virus."
The ACT government said it might "introduce further measures if necessary, including possible limits to indoor and outdoor gatherings".
Ms Stephen-Smith said that the ACT health system was starting to experience increased pressure, with more than 230 health care workers currently in quarantine.
"To support our frontline health workers, we have had to make the very difficult decision to cease most category two and three elective surgeries at Calvary Public Hospital for the next six to eight weeks.
"Postponing elective surgeries is always incredibly difficult, but taking this action will enable additional health care staff to be redeployed to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
There will be no changes to elective surgeries at Canberra Hospital or in the ACT's private hospitals at this time.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and will look to switch non-essential elective surgeries back on at Calvary as soon as we possibly can."
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Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
