Australia: Authorities in the Australian Capital Territory ease facemask requirements from 18:00 Feb. 25 /update 38

Event

Authorities in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will ease measures requiring people to wear facemasks in indoor public settings from 18:00 Feb. 25. Individuals 12 years or older will only be required to wear masks on public transport, when visiting certain locations such as hospitals, aged-care facilities, and schools, as well as inside Canberra Airport (CBR) and on domestic flights. Authorities still encourage people to wear masks in indoor public settings when possible.

Domestic Measures
Businesses no longer need to comply with density limits or display capacity limit signs. Officials will also remove requirements for customers to be seated while eating and drinking at hospitality venues and ticketing and preregistration for events. Employees may return to the workplace if possible. Officials no longer require all businesses to use the Check-In CBR app; the requirement remains in place for high-risk locations and events such as bars and nightclubs and non-ticketed events open to the public. From 23:59 Feb. 25, organizers of events with more than 2,000 attendees will not need to apply for an exemption, though events with more than 5,000 people will need to obtain a COVID-19 Safety Plan approval.

Authorities require household contacts of COVID-19 cases to take a PCR test upon notification, self-quarantine for seven days from receiving the test result, complete the ACT Health online declaration form, and take a rapid antigen or PCR test on day 6 of quarantine. The government encourages people who spent a lot of time with COVID-19 cases to follow the same procedures, though the actions are not compulsory. Officials also encourage both groups to avoid high-risk settings, mass gatherings, and large-scale events for another week after quarantine.

Domestic Border Controls
ACT permits travel from most Australian states. Designated household contacts of COVID-19 cases and fully vaccinated international arrivals in other parts of Australia that travel directly to the ACT must complete an online declaration within 24 hours of entering the territory. International travelers must take a rapid antigen test (RAT) within 24 hours of arrival in Australia and self-quarantine until receiving a negative result. Officials also encourage international arrivals to limit movement for seven days after arrival and ban them from high-risk settings for 14 days after entry.

Quarantine Requirements
The ACT permits fully vaccinated travelers to enter Australia under national guidelines without quarantine. Unvaccinated travelers from all other locations must still quarantine in government-designated facilities for seven days in the city of arrival at their own expense. Quarantine fees in the ACT are AUD 3,000 for the first adult, AUD 1,000 for each additional adult in a group, and AUD 500 for every child over the age of two.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by government health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Plan for transport disruptions and delivery delays. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.

Resources

Australian Capital Territory COVID-19 Information
ACT Travel Forms
ACT COVID-19 Areas of Concern