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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Harley Dennett

'Extremely low risk': Parliament to reopen after COVID contacts identified

Restrictions at Parliament will lift and the building reopened to the public following a Greens staff member who tested positive to COVID-19 had been working in the building while infected.

The risk to its workers and the public is deemed "extremely low", ACT Health has advised Parliament's presiding officers, Senate President Slade Brockman and Speaker Andrew Wallace.

"ACT Health has identified all close and casual contacts of a staffer who tested positive to COVID-19 on his return to Victoria, and advises the risk to other building occupants and members of the public is extremely low," they said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Frontline staff, including the security and catering staff, will continue to wear masks. Other building occupants are encouraged to wear a mask if they want to."

The positive case was not linked to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Parliament House has been closed to the public for four months after the ACT went into lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19. Picture Dion Georgopoulos

The building will reopen to the public on Wednesday after being off-limits for the last four months.

Members of the public and workers can now return but are asked to stay away if exhibiting symptoms and must comply with ACT Health orders.

Greens leader Adam Bandt and colleague Senator Nick McKim were among the close contact MPs who were required to isolate pending a negative result. All have now tested negative.

"Other members of the team have been tested and returned negative results," said a statement from the Greens on the weekend.

Seated eating options will reopen as well, including the Queen's Terrace Cafe, and the Parliament Shop will again be accessible to the public.

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