IN a day of record high covid cases and with 230 health workers in quarantine, the ACT government is adding public health restrictions to cafes, bars and nightclubs, and indoor entertainment venues and cancelling some elective surgery.  

From noon tomorrow (January 8), hospitality and licensed businesses must ensure that patrons are seated while eating and drinking, and dancing at these venues will not be permitted.

Nightclubs will be able to operate as bars within existing density limits but dancing in these venues will not be permitted, said Chief Minister Andrew Barr.

With the ACT experiencing more than a thousand new COVID-19 cases today, these measures were necessary to slow the spread of the virus.

Events would continue – presumably Summernats and the Royal Canberra Show next month – with ACT Health working closely with event organisers to ensure COVID safety plans were in place.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said that the ACT health system was starting to experience increased pressure, with more than 230 health care workers currently in quarantine. 

“To support our frontline health workers, we have had to make the very difficult decision to cease most Category 2 and 3 elective surgeries at Calvary Public Hospital for the next six to eight weeks,” she said.

“Postponing elective surgeries is always incredibly difficult, but taking this action will enable additional health care staff to be redeployed to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. There will be no changes to elective surgeries at Canberra Hospital or in the ACT’s private hospitals at this time.”