COVID-19 restrictions eased as vaccination rate in Australian capital hits 80 pc

ANI
19 Oct 2021, 13:25 GMT+10

Canberra [Australia], October 19 (ANI/Xinhua): Coronavirus restrictions in the Australian capital will be eased further after it reached a major vaccine milestone.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) became the country's first jurisdiction to hit 80 percent double-dose vaccination coverage among those aged above 12.

As a result, non-essential retail in Canberra will be allowed to open for the first time since Aug. 12 on Friday in a major boost for the ACT's economy.

"Reaching the 80-percent milestone is a significant achievement," ACT government said in a media release on Tuesday.

"Canberrans should be really proud of how our community has worked together and given us the best opportunity to manage the expected increase in cases as the nation starts to reopen.""We are now well on our way to having close to 99 percent of the eligible population fully vaccinated by the end of November."Under further changes to the ACT's reopening roadmap, hospitality venues will be allowed to have up to 300 patrons from Oct. 29 and face masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors.Quarantine-free travel between the ACT and New South Wales (NSW) will resume from Nov. 1.

"This means that ACT residents will not have quarantine when they return to the territory from any part of NSW, including Greater Sydney," ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said.

On Tuesday morning, 2,046 new cases and 15 deaths were reported in Australia as the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.

So far, about 84.8 percent of Australians aged 16 and over had received one coronavirus vaccine dose and 68.3 percent were fully inoculated, according to the latest data released by the Department of Health. (ANI/Xinhua)

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.

More Information

null in null

International

Section

Southern California Edison targets grid safety in wildfire strategy

Southern California Edison to spend $6.2 billion to curb wildfire risk

ROSEMEAD, California: Southern California Edison (SCE) has outlined a US$6.2 billion wildfire mitigation plan aimed at reducing fire...

Appeals court clears Trump’s rollback plan for worker protections

Appeals court lifts block on Trump order limiting federal union rights

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal appeals court recently lifted a block that had stopped President Donald Trump's administration from removing...

Tornadoes kill 25 in Kentucky and Missouri after fierce spring storm

Severe storms kill at least 25 in Kentucky and Missouri

LEXINGTON, St. LOUIS: A strong spring storm caused tornadoes overnight in the U.S. Midwest and Ohio River Valley, killing at least...

Charges dropped, but US scholar still held in Thailand

American academic stuck in Thailand for insulting royal, family says

BANGKOK, Thailand: An American political science teacher, Paul Chambers, is still stuck in Thailand, even though the government dropped...

Judge strips NYC of control over Rikers jail, cites rising violence

US judge takes control of New York's troubled Rikers Island jail

NEW YORK CITY, New York: A federal judge has decided to take control of New York's Rikers Island jail away from city officials due...

Two climbers, from India and Philippines die on Everest

Two mountaineers die on Everest as 2025 climbing season begins

KATHMANDU, Nepal: An Indian climber and a Filipino climber were the first to die on Mount Everest during the current climbing season...

Sydney

Section