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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National

ACT passes 10,000 vaccinations with more exposure sites announced

Canberrans were waiting more than four hours for a COVID-19 test at EPIC on Monday. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

More than 10,000 vaccine doses have been administered to front-line workers in the ACT as testing numbers skyrocketed amid the Brisbane outbreak.

New exposure sites have been announced outside of the affected greater Brisbane area after confirmed cases visited locations at Gladstone, Gin Gin, Miriam Vale and Byron Bay.

ACT Health said there were 1316 tests conducted in the past 24 hours and the ACT remains COVID-19 free.

ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith told the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday more than 7000 quarantine, border and front-line workers had received the first dose of the vaccine in the ACT.

More than 2000 are fully vaccinated and to date, 10,281 doses have been administered at the Garran surge centre. Thousands more vaccinations have been delivered to aged and disability care centres by the federal government.

ACT Health said residents who had recently been to affected areas should check exposure sites and follow the directions of Queensland and NSW health authorities.

"Anyone who has been in any these close contact, casual contact and low-risk locations in Queensland and NSW should contact ACT Health," a spokesperson said.

Queensland Health reported six new locally acquired cases on Tuesday which were close contacts of confirmed cases.

A further two cases are under investigation, which are historic cases.

Ms Stephen-Smith has announced a directive requiring anyone returning from the greater Brisbane area to enter quarantine, which came into effect on Monday night.

The directive includes the following five local councils: City of Brisbane, City of Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay Region and Redlands City.

Anyone who has visited those areas since March 15 must remain in quarantine until at least 6pm Thursday. Although, this may be extended as more information about the Brisbane outbreak is uncovered.

"ACT Health is continuing to closely monitor the situation in Queensland and will take additional steps if necessary to keep the ACT community safe," ACT Health said.

About 800 people had completed a declaration on Monday confirmed they had returned from a COVID-19 hotspot which led to massive queues and long waits at testing centres.

Ms Stephen-Smith said capacity was being ramped up to counteract the loss of the Garran surge centre which recently became a vaccination clinic.

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