The ACT has recorded 11 new COVID-19 cases in the territory, with at least seven of those in the community while infectious.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed 11 people were in hospital with the virus, with one requiring ventilation in intensive care.
Seven of the 11 hospitalised cases are unvaccinated. Two had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Nine of the new infections have been linked to an existing case or cluster — seven are household contacts — while two cases are still under investigation.
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the government had received reports of Canberrans attending medical appointments while awaiting COVID-19 test results.
Ms Stephen-Smith said that people leaving their homes for any reason while awaiting a negative test was not acceptable.
"On some occasions, these people have subsequently received a positive result from the tests that they were awaiting," she said.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Vanessa Johnston reiterated that now was not the time for Canberrans to be out and about.
"Don't stop at the shops or anywhere else on the way to getting tested or on the way back," Dr Johnston said.
"It comes with risk and will potentially be listed as another exposure location, another lot of work that our site liaison officers need to do … if it is subsequently found that you test positive."
Dr Johnston also confirmed that the age breakdown of the cases had remained mostly unchanged, with young Canberrans still over-represented in the numbers.
AstraZeneca advised wait times reduced
This morning, the ACT government changed their advice, recommending Canberrans get a second AstraZenca vaccine dose between four and eight weeks after the first.
The decision was made due to the risk of Canberra's current Delta outbreak and is in line with guidance from the vaccine expert advisory body Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman encouraged Canberrans to move up their second dose despite it possibly reducing the effectiveness of the vaccine.
"Given the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant, it is now recommended that people have their second dose within the four to eight-week range," Dr Coleman said.
"We know the vaccines are very effective at preventing illness and death. The Delta variant is easier to catch and most importantly is right here in our community."
Ms Stephen-Smith reiterated that during an outbreak, "the best vaccine is the one that you can get today".
"We want to see more Canberrans fully vaccinated faster to give them protection during this outbreak," she said.
New disability testing clinic to open
Ms Stephen-Smith also announced a new disability testing clinic would be opened in Garran this week.
Vulnerable Canberrans have been calling for an accessible testing clinic, with many of the mainstream sites unsuitable for their use.Ms Stephen-Smith said the specialty access and sensory vaccination centre — currently located at the Garran Surge Centre — would be moved to the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre, where it would also increase its operations to five days per week.
In its place, a new dedicated access and sensory testing service would be established at Garran.
"I know that many people with a disability will welcome this move as people have indicated that a more appropriate space for testing is an important thing for them," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
The centre is set to open late Wednesday, and Ms Stephen-Smith said more details would be provided on ACT Health's social media accounts.
Barr warns of 'really tough spring' ahead
Mr Barr has once again reminded Canberrans of the difficult months that are ahead until vaccination rates increase in the ACT and in New South Wales.
"We need to think about what our public health settings are around controlling the outbreaks that have come into the territory from NSW, but that we're going to face an ongoing risk of that for many months," he said.
"At the moment we are dampening down the risk through the combination of a nation-leading vaccination program, a lockdown, and extensive efforts to test, to trace, to isolate and to quarantine.
"And all three are combining to leave the ACT in a better situation than what we're seeing in NSW.
