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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Alex Crowe

Coronavirus case detected in Canberra with ACT to enter lockdown from tonight

Coronavirus has been detected in Canberra overnight with the ACT to enter lockdown from 5pm.

There has been speculation the lockdown could be seven days, but the ACT government is yet to make a formal announcement of details.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan, Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman and Education Minister Yvette Berry will give an update on the situation at 12.15pm.

It's likely Ms Berry will give details for childcare and school arrangements.

LIVE BLOG: Keep up to date with the latest developments as Covid returns to Canberra

The positive case will be the first for ACT in more than 12 months with the territory avoiding lockdowns endured by much of NSW during the current outbreak.

ACT government has declared an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday morning to determine the next steps.

According to the ACT government's Covid roadmap, the ACT would initially enter a "pause and assess" period following an outbreak of coronavirus in the capital.

During the first phase of the Covid response, residents would be required to stay at home with few reasons to leave the house.

Reasons to leave would include shopping for essentials like groceries and medicine, attending medical appointments or attending childcare arrangements where parents or guardians need to undertake essential work or study.

Anyone who could work from home would be required to work from home and exercising outdoors would be limited to one hour per day.

People would be permitted to attend coronavirus vaccinations under phase one, provided the individual was not in quarantine.

NSW recorded 345 cases of coronavirus overnight with at least 60 people infectious in the community. Two men in their 90s have sadly passed away, including one man who was fully vaccinated.

ACT Health will make further announcements this afternoon.

More to come.

The ACT has recorded its first Covid case in more than 12 months. Picture: Karleen Minney
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