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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Cassandra Morgan

ACT confirms two more cases of coronavirus, plus additional case interstate

ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Two more cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in the ACT, while another Canberran who is interstate also has the disease.

The ACT's Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman, announced about 3.40pm on Friday two additional cases within territory borders. The interstate case is an Australian National University student.

The two new cases announced by Dr Coleman brings the territory's total number of coronavirus-infected people within ACT borders to six.

The fifth confirmed case is a man in his 70s who recently returned from overseas, where he is believed to have been exposed to the virus.

A small number of his household contacts have been contacted by authorities and are self-quarantining. A number of travel close contacts have also been identified.

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Ms Coleman on Friday said people in rows 42 to 46 on Flight EY450 from Abu Dhabi to Sydney, which arrived at 6am on March 18, are considered close contacts of the man and should contact ACT Health's Communicable Disease Control Section.

They should also quarantine themselves.

People in rows three to seven on Flight VA640 from Sydney to Canberra, which arrived at 11am on March 18, are also considered close contacts and should follow the same instructions.

The infected man was also on Flight EY78 from Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi, which arrived at 5.55am local time on March 17, but authorities were still determining where the man was sitting.

"Anybody who was on this flight, we currently consider a close contact and ask them to give us a call for further advice," Ms Coleman said.

The sixth confirmed case is a man in his 50s, who also recently returned from overseas. The ACT government said he has complied with self-quarantining directions for travellers.

Authorities had identified a small number of close contacts for the man, but said the man had no close contacts at risk in his travels.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said his thoughts were with the family and friends of the interstate student who had contracted COVID-19.

"The student is being cared for by health authorities, and following their advice and directions," Professor Schmidt said in a statement on Friday.

"They have not been to campus or the ACT this semester.

"We have been in contact with the student and are providing additional support through the university's community welfare team."

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