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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Toby Vue

ACT records 71 COVID cases on Boxing Day

The ACT has reported 71 new cases on Boxing Day.

It is half of yesterday's figure as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly across Australia.

ACT residents aged 12 and over who are fully vaccinated are at 98.5 per cent while only one patient with COVID remains in hospital.

With the rise in cases, the exposure list has been updated to include 21 new sites.

As of 10am on Boxing Day, the Nicholls testing clinic has been closed for the day while the other three - Kambah, Mitchell and Garran - are at capacity.

"We are experiencing high demand for testing. Please do not queue on the roads," ACT Health website states.

The federal government on Friday announced wait times for boosters would be slashed to four months from January 4, and three months from January 31.

Today, ACT health facilities will tighten visitor restrictions.

"No visitors will be able to enter a health facility unless in exceptional circumstances such as end of life, birthing or for paediatric care," ACT Health said.

"The decision to tighten restrictions is a very difficult one, especially at this time of year.

"There have been several exposures in health care setting in recent weeks.

"These exposures not only present a risk to the safety of vulnerable patients, health care workers and visitors, they also result in staff spending time in quarantine rather than at work caring for patients. This places a huge strain on health care delivery."

Exceptions for compassionate reasons will continue to be determined on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the relevant clinical staff.

Around Australia

NSW has today recorded 6394 cases of COVID-19 and no deaths as case numbers continue to rise.

The results were from 109,545 tests, which had dropped by some 40,000 on Christmas Day.

Across NSW there are 458 people with COVID in hospital, 52 of whom require intensive care.

Meanwhile, Victoria has recorded another two deaths and 1608 cases on Boxing Day.

MORE COVID NEWS:

COVID testing at Garran surge centre reached capacity again last Friday morning. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
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