Warning to brace for more COVID-19 cases as ACT records 19 new infections

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says there is particular concern over a cluster in the disability community that has now grown to double digits.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says officials are bracing themselves for more COVID-19 cases in coming days.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says officials are bracing themselves for more COVID-19 cases in coming days. Source: AAP

The ACT has recorded 19 new local COVID-19 cases, including an expanding outbreak in the disability community. 

Seventeen cases are linked to previously known cases and the source of two infections remains under investigation.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said only six of the new cases were infectious in the community.

There are now 121 active cases in the territory, which remains under lockdown until September 2.

The latest numbers are over double the total cases announced on Saturday, but Mr Barr said this was a reflection of the slight change in the reporting cut-off time.

"It does reflect the situation that we face, there will still be new cases in the days ahead," he warned reporters in Canberra on Sunday.
"What we are striving for is that all of those new cases are not infectious in the community."

Included in the figure is an outbreak totalling 14 cases in the disability sector, with a significant number of support workers among them.

More broadly, Mr Barr said the ACT remains vulnerable because of its geographic position with surrounding NSW recording another peak day of 830 cases on Sunday.

"We are not the only Australian state or territory that faces risk from New South Wales but it would be defensible to say our risk is somewhat greater than most other Australian states and territories," Mr Barr said.

 


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2 min read
Published 22 August 2021 12:19pm
Updated 22 August 2021 1:33pm
Source: SBS News


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