Health authorities in the ACT have not released a daily tally of new COVID-19 infection for the territory for the first time since the virus took hold in August last year.
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A man in his 70s died with COVID-19 in the ACT, health authorities reported on Thursday.
ACT Health said it would not publish a case number on Good Friday or Easter Monday, in a further sign health authorities are putting less emphasis on daily statistical reporting.
That decision comes ahead of an expected announcement next week on possible changes to close-contact isolation rules for people exposed to COVID-19.
The ACT cabinet was briefed by Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman on Wednesday, and there will be further discussions after the Easter long weekend.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Thursday said the ACT was working with other states and territories, and expected rules would remain consistent across the eastern states.
There was not a straightforward answer on adjusting the close contact rules which was a "complex" issue, and while there were pros and cons to any decision, the ACT government recognised the need to keep the economy moving, he said.
Canberra Airport workers who are close contacts of COVID-19 cases will be able to return to work if they are symptom free under an exemption granted to ease workforce shortages.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman has signed off on rules that allow check-in and baggage staff, along with security workers, to go to work while they are close contacts.
The exemption will remain in place until 11.59pm on April 25, covering a period in which airports nationwide will remain under significant pressure.
The COVID-19 case number has been published every day since August 12, including on Christmas Day and other public holidays.
The ACT reported 1074 new coronavirus infections in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday. There were 56 people in Canberra hospitals with the virus, a slight drop from the previous day's patient numbers of 61.
Meanwhile, a case of a recombinant COVID-19 variant - combining BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron - has been detected in a recently returned traveller in NSW.
One case was identified in the week ending April 9 in NSW, an epidemiological report from the state's health authorities said.
Preliminary data has suggested it has a higher growth rate and may be more contagious than BA.2, which was more contagious than BA.1 and the Delta variant.
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Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
