ACT records 25 new local cases of coronavirus

One Australian capital is on the way to becoming one of the most vaccinated cities in the world.

The ACT has recorded another 25 new local Covid-19 cases as several babies remain in hospital as close contacts to virus cases.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said 17 Canberrans were in hospital with Covid-19, including five people in the intensive care unit who required ventilation.

Mr Barr said 97.1 per cent of eligible Canberrans had received at least one dose of a vaccine. With lockdown set to lift on October 15, just over 69 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has praised the local vaccination rate. Picture by Sean Davey.

He said Canberrans should be very proud of that achievement, but urged people aged 20 to 24 to get their jab as they were languishing around the 75 per cent first-dose threshold.

“We are on the path to becoming one of the most vaccinated cities in the world,” he said.

It was confirmed on Friday that two of the hospitalisations were babies who contracted the virus while in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Canberra Hospital.

At least 17 Canberrans are in hospital with Covid-19. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith confirmed no additional babies had tested positive, but five infants were in quarantine after being identified as close contacts.

Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said on Saturday four babies could be released from isolation if their carers returned negative tests, while several others remained casual contacts.

Dr Coleman said carers were looking after the infants and “a lot of work” was going into supporting the babies and families.

Mr Barr said it was too early to worry about how the movement of residents in virus-riddled NSW when its lockdown lifts on Monday might impact on the ACT.

The AFP conduct a random COVID-19 check at the ACT/NSW border. Picture: Newswire/Gary Ramage

He said the rules in both jurisdictions prevented people from freely entering the other and that would remain for the near future.

“For ACT residents we will not be changing the travel arrangements whilst we are in lockdown,” the Chief Minister said.

“But as I have indicated previously the next step for us will be an expanded regional travel exemption arrangement and then beyond that we would look to even greater travel within regional NSW.

“And then beyond that will be free travel but that will take place; the first step, from the middle of October, the second step likely from the end of October and then the final step in late November, early December.”

The ACT’s new infections brings the number of active cases to 430.

Originally published as ACT records 25 new local cases of coronavirus