COVID-19 has seeped into the ACT's front line with the infection of a hospital worker, while there is now a coronavirus patient in intensive care.
Hundreds of nurses not currently in the workforce have raised their hand to help the ACT's health system battling against a growing outbreak while hundreds are in isolation due to potential exposure at a growing list of public sites.
A staff member at the University of Canberra Hospital working in food preparation tested positive for COVID-19, but the risk to patients and hospital staff has been deemed low.
Canberra Health Services interim chief executive Dave Peffer said 15 close contacts are now in isolation and that area has been deep cleaned.
Health authorities were notified on Monday night that the worker had been unknowingly infectious for three shifts, on August 20, 21 and 22.
"The team member works in our food services area," Mr Peffer said.
"We immediately deployed our infection prevention control team as well as infectious disease experts."
The staff member wore goggles and a surgical mask throughout their shift.
"This is why we ask people when they're coming on to our hospital campuses to wear masks appropriately," Mr Peffer said.
"And, why we see our team members wearing not just masks but face shields whenever they're in clinical areas."
About 700 health staff members remain in isolation, a severe blow to the workforce under strain.
But Canberrans have stepped up to the plate, with 500 people with a nursing background to join the fight following a call out from ACT Health.
Most of these people will join the ranks at testing and vaccination sites. Some have filled hospital roles as teams are sent out to areas including Condamine Court and aged care.
There are four people with COVID-19 in hospital, although two of those people are hospitalised for other conditions.
For the first time since 2020, a COVID-19 patient is in intensive care and the Health Minister has moved to assure Canberrans the health system can cope.
"Canberra Hospital has a dedicated ward for COVID-19 patients and Calvary public hospital is also setting up a respiratory assessment unit to operate as and when required," she said.
The mental health ward at Calvary has been re-assigned for Covid patients, and Ms Stephen-Smith said it was chosen because it had a separate entrance to Calvary's emergency department, but wasn't too far from it.
It doesn't rule out however, the possibility for the Garran surge centre, where Pfizer jabs are being administered, to revert to its initial intention of being a Covid-specific emergency department.
Plans to turn the Australian Institute of Sport arena in Bruce into the next mass Pfizer hub to help get through about 64,000 people aged 16 to 29 are on track for next month.
Ms Stephen-Smith said safety concerns particularly around lighting at the venue would be addressed before the site was opened.
"This is a very different use of that space, it doesn't require lighting around the arena that would be required for a big sporting event," she said.
"Of course, you don't have the crowds all in one place at one time, you have people moving through the venue in much smaller numbers than you would for a big event."
