Health authorities are warning Canberrans to prepare for the "very real threat" of COVID-19 coming to the territory, amid the growing outbreak in Sydney.
There were no cases of COVID-19 recorded on Thursday in the ACT and the territory has not implemented any new restrictions on top of those in place for the seven NSW local government areas announced Wednesday.
But Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the government was "actively considering" new restrictions if the virus was to jump the border.
"People shouldn't be travelling between the two areas at this time, but it is also a very important reminder that everybody in the ACT community has to be on their absolute best COVID-19 behaviour."
Businesses, residents urged to prepare for the unknown
Despite the heightened concern, ACT health authorities have not recommended new restrictions be implemented on top of those made on Wednesday.
"It is absolutely vital to reduce the risk of any outbreaks in the ACT and to keep the community safe and to keep our businesses open."
Health authorities said more than 1,400 people were currently under stay-at-home orders in the ACT after leaving Sydney's inner suburbs after 4:00pm on Wednesday.
"We think that seems quite high, so ACT Health is looking at those declarations to see if people have been a little bit cautious," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"But we would much prefer that people are more cautious and that they are overly thinking that they are in that group."
On Thursday more than 7,000 people had filled out ACT Health's online declaration form to say they were in the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong or Shellharbour regions in the past fortnight.
Ms Stephen-Smith warned businesses to prepare for further restrictions.
"Please do start planning for the possibility that density restrictions in the ACT may change in response to the escalating situation," she said.
"The Chief Health Officer hasn't made any decision on that yet.
