ANYONE entering Canberra (including returning residents) after 11.59pm tonight (July 21) from the local government areas of the Orange City Council, Blayney Shire Council or Cabonne Shire Council will be required to “stay at home”. 

These requirements will remain in place until at least 11.59pm Tuesday, July 27.

Due to the changing COVID-19 situation in NSW, the ACT government announced the new requirement in a statement this afternoon.

“With cases and exposure locations now occurring in regional locations outside Greater Sydney, restrictions could be implemented for other regions at short notice,” said an ACT government spokesperson.

“All Canberrans should minimise interstate travel at this time and be prepared to reconsider their plans at short notice. Canberrans should not be travelling to any areas subject to quarantine or stay at home requirements.

“With the NSW situation escalating, we have seen COVID-19 transmission occur in the Blayney Shire Council LGA and additional exposure sites listed in the past 24 hours in Orange and Goulburn.”

Non-ACT residents who have been in one of these three LGAs after 11.59pm tonight will not be allowed to travel to the ACT without an approved exemption.

The ACT government says exemptions will only be granted for extraordinary circumstances, and even if an exemption is approved, you will still be required to follow the stay-at-home order in the ACT.

Anyone who has been in these LGAs on or after July 14 and who left prior to 11.59pm today is required to declare using ACT Health’s online declaration form.