The territory's plan to reopen has been put on hold this afternoon after four new coronavirus cases were uncovered in the ACT in the last two days.
Chief health officer Kerryn Coleman advised the ACT government that tomorrow is not the time to proceed with further easing of restrictions.
Stage 3 restrictions postponed
— Andrew Barr MLA (@ABarrMLA) July 9, 2020
With a further confirmed COVID-19 case in the ACT today, the Chief Health Officer has advised the Government that tomorrow is not the time to proceed with further easing of restrictions.
It's not expected any further restrictions will be imposed.
An update from the ACT government on the restriction easing and Wednesday's new cases came on Thursday afternoon.
It is expected the easing of restrictions will not go ahead as outlined on Monday, however it's understood some parts of the reopening plan may still proceed.
On Monday the government announced restrictions would be eased midday Friday to allow gaming, brothels and strip clubs to reopen.
Contact community sport competitions were also set to get the go ahead while outdoor gatherings of up to 250 people would be allowed.
Small venues were set to be able to increase their capacity, being able to choose whether to follow the one person per four square metres of available space rule, or allow 25 customers at once - whichever allowed more patrons.
Australian Hotels Association general manager Anthony Brierley said he backed the move to pause the easing of restrictions in light of the new cases.
"The industry is anxious to see the impact of these three cases of coronavirus - in particular, if community transmission throughout the ACT has begun," he said.
"It is right to press pause on some of the restrictions supposed to commence from noon tomorrow. We cannot afford to risk tougher lockdowns by getting this wrong.
"The flat patron limit of 25 in smaller venues should be paused. It was inequitable, ineffectual and poses a higher level of transmission risk with minimal economic impact."
Mr Brierley said the pause should last for two to four weeks, until a one person per two square metre rule could be safely and evenly implemented.
He said some of the low risk changes, such as allowing nightclubs to operate as bars, should proceed.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr foreshadowed a delay in restriction easing on Wednesday.
"The community should expect the implementation of stage three is likely to be postponed until we have a better understanding of the Victorian outbreak and the impact on the ACT," he said.
