Canberrans will not be required to wear masks indoors from Saturday, but the ACT government has extended stay-at-home orders to be in line with changes across the border in New South Wales.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced today she was extending her state's lockdown by one week, alongside new restrictions for returning school students.
While NSW has tried to claw back control of the virus in the community, the ACT government has been doing all it can to keep it out of theirs.
For Canberrans, that has included a raft of preemptive measures including mask mandates, stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions.
Here is what has changed now that NSW's lockdown has been extended.
Masks no longer mandatory after Friday
On June 27, Canberrans were ordered to wear masks for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Today ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced that mandate would end at 11:59pm on Friday, when wearing a mask indoors would no longer be required.
"The greatest risk period has now passed," Mr Barr said.
"There still remains a level of risk, and that's why various restrictions will remain.
Mr Barr said Canberrans should "still hold onto their masks" in the event of future outbreaks, and said people were still encouraged to wear masks in places where physical distancing was difficult.
Face masks are still mandatory for all domestic travel at Canberra Airport.
Stay-at-home order extended, but you'll be out after 14 days
On June 26, the ACT government effectively closed its borders to anyone who had been in the Greater Sydney region, NSW Central Coast, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, placing more than 10,000 people under stay-at-home orders.
That number has now reduced to 6,400.
Today the ACT government extended its stay-at-home order until next Friday, 16 July.
This means anyone who returns from Greater Sydney before then, must follow stay-at-home requirements for 14 days, or until advised otherwise by ACT Health.
People already under stay-at-home orders may leave after they have completed their 14 days.
Mr Barr said the extension was "mirroring" the situation in NSW, and urged Canberrans to exercise caution if they must travel through the region.
"Regional NSW has a different set of public health directions, so for those who may be needing to visit friends and family just be wary of the rules."
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith also said school students over the age of 13, who were still completing their stay-at-home orders, could attend school next week so long as they wore a mask.
'Luck can turn', Canberrans warned
Mr Barr said the ACT's "ticket" out of the pandemic was vaccination, but that he was "pleasantly surprised" by Canberra's current COVID-19 trajectory.
"I thought [the Sydney outbreak] was the set of circumstances and the risk profile ... and that the risk was as high as it's been in the calendar year 2021," Mr Barr said.
"But luck can turn, and that is our word of caution."
Canberrans will also soon face fines if they do not use the Check In CBR app on public transport, or in retail stores, taxis and ride-sharing services from July 15.
Mr Barr also said the ACT would today administer its 10,000th dose of Astrazeneca at Calvary Hospital.
