Canberra records another 15 cases with only eight linked to outbreak as ACT marks one month in lockdown

Canberra has recorded 15 new cases of Covid-19, with one detail prompting major concern as the ACT marks one month in lockdown.

Canberra has recorded another 15 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, with authorities revealing nearly half of Sunday’s cases are unlinked.

Only eight cases have been linked back to previous infections, and nine of those diagnosed in the last 24-hour reporting period were in the community for some period of time while infectious.

Sunday’s announcement comes as the Australian Capital Territory marks one month in lockdown.

The cases total for the current outbreak now stands at 493, chief health officer Kerryn Coleman said.

There have been 254 people who have recovered, leaving 239 active cases.

The active cases include 10 people in hospital, three of those in intensive care, and eight of the 10 are unvaccinated.

Of the three in ICU, one requires a ventilator.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said police are dealing with a recurring problem in a small number of businesses where staff are not wearing masks properly.

Covid testing continues at ACT Health facilities in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

One of Sunday’s cases is a detainee at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) who tested positive on Saturday.

Dr Kerryn Coleman said detainees, staff and a police officer who had been in contact with the positive case have been identified and are receiving support from ACT Health.

She said 74 per cent of AMC detainees had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 55 per cent fully vaccinated.

“The detainee has been in isolation since their admission to the AMC,” she said.

“We have comprehensive operational plans in place for our high risk environments. These plans were immediately enacted yesterday as part of our response and we‘ve had a really good operational outcome from that.”

Originally published as Canberra records another 15 cases with only eight linked to outbreak as ACT marks one month in lockdown