AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

FACE MASKS

Any person aged 12 years or older must wear a face mask when entering or using the following:

• High risk facilities, including a hospital, residential aged care facility, correction and detention facilities, residential accommodation facilities that support people who require frequent, close personal care and who are vulnerable to disease.
• On public transport, including a public bus, light rail vehicle, taxi, rideshare vehicle, hire car or demand response service vehicle (drivers of these vehicles should continue wearing a mask when transporting passengers).
• In all indoor spaces at a school, early childhood education and care settings(including out of school hours care), noting that only children in Years 7 to 12 are required to wear a face mask while in an indoor space at school. Children in Years 3 to 6 are encouraged to wear a mask when indoors at school, if they are comfortable doing so (this is at the discretion of the student and their parent, carers or guardians). This requirement will be reviewed prior to recommencement of the school year in 2022.

Indoor Front of House Hospitality Staff are also required to wear a face mask when working.

A person may remove their face mask in one of the abovementioned locations in the following situations:

• when consuming food, drink or medicine
• when communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing and visibility of the mouth is essential for communication. o if asked to remove a face mask to ascertain identity (eg if asked by a police officer).
• When the nature of a person’s work in one of the abovementioned areas means that wearing a face mask creates a risk to health and safety.
• When performing essential work in an indoor space in one of the abovementioned areas, but only when:
  • in an office where no other people are present; OR
  • when sitting or standing at a workstation in an office; AND
  • 5 metres away from any other person. As soon as a person is no longer alone or is moving, they must wear a face mask.
• When undertaking vigorous exercise.
• Because of an emergency.
• Face masks remain mandatory for people aged 12 years and over while inside the Canberra Airport terminal and during domestic commercial flights in and out of Canberra.

 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS, LEAVING HOME AND VISITORS

Home Visits

• No limit on number of visitors to a home

Informal Outdoor Gatherings

• No limit on the number of people permitted at informal outdoor gatherings

Organised Events (Outdoor and Indoor)

• All organised events must develop a COVID Safety Plan.
  • The COVID Safe Event Checklist (for events up to 2,000 people) is available for use and once completed is regarded as the Event COVID Safety Plan.
• Density limits of one person per two square metres will apply for all indoor spaces (exc staff).
• Events over 1,000 people must be ticketed or pre-registered(smaller events must use Check in CBR)
• Events of between 1,000 and 2,000 people must submit their COVID Safety Plan to ACT Health.
• Events and gatherings greater than 2,000 people must seek an exemption, in accordance with the COVID Safe Event Protocol.
  • Density limits may need to be applied to larger events being held in outdoor spaces.
  • No capacity limits on the size of events that will be considered for an exemption, but event organisers must work closely with ACT Health and other relevant ACT Government agencies in the development of event COVID Safety Plans.

TRAVEL (INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL) 

Interstate Travel

• A risk-based approach to determining travel restrictions going forward.
• Existing high risk geographical areas will be reviewed and any changes will come into effect from 12 November 2021.
• If high risk geographical areas remain, exemptions will continue to be required prior to travel:
  • Fully vaccinated travellers can enter the ACT for any reason, without the need to quarantine or undergo testing. Exemptions will be issued automatically.
  • Unvaccinated travellers can travel for essential reasons only. Exemption applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis and certain conditions (testing and/or stay at home) may be applied.

International Travel

• International travellers who are fully vaccinated no longer need to quarantine on arrival into the ACT.
  • Testing requirements apply
  • Restrictions on entry into high risk and other settings
    Modified quarantine requirements for dependents under 18 years of age.
• International travellers who are not fully vaccinated must quarantine for 14 days at port of entry.
• Exemptions can be considered for travel to the ACT to complete quarantine, but only in exceptional circumstances.
• Further changes to international travel requirements will be considered, in line with Commonwealth advice.

More information is available here.

 

BUSINESS (INCLUDING RETAIL)

Businesses not covered elsewhere in the Direction (including Retail, whether Essential or Non Essential)

• Businesses must meet their work, health and safety obligations.
• One person per two square metres must be applied to any indoor areas of the business which are accessible to the public.
• No density limits apply to outdoor spaces which are accessible to the public.

 

HOSPITALITY AND LICENSED VENUES

Licensed Venues, Cafes, Restaurants and Food Courts

• 25 people across the venue before density limits apply (exc staff).
• If businesses wish to have more than 25 people, they can apply:
  • One person per two square metres per usable indoor space (exc staff).
  • No density limits apply to outdoor spaces.
• Eating and drinking while standing is permitted.
• Dancing is permitted.
• Venues to display a sign at the entrance of each space specifying occupancy limit for any indoor spaces.

Food Courts

• Can apply one person per two square metres within each indoor space
• Eating and drinking while standing is permitted.

 

HAIRDRESSING, BEAUTY AND PERSONAL SERVICES

Hairdressing and Barbers, Beauty Therapy, Day Spas, Nail Salons, Waxing Salons, Tanning Salons, Tattoo Parlours and Body Modification Studios

• 25 people across the venue before density limits apply (exc staff).
• If businesses wish to have more than 25 people, they can apply:
  • One person per two square metres per usable indoor space (exc staff).

 

PLACES OF WORSHIP, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS

Places of Worship

• 25 people across the venue before density limits apply (exc staff).
• If places of worship wish to have more than 25 people, they can apply:
  • One person per two square metres per usable indoor space (exc staff).
  • No density limits apply to outdoor spaces.
• Choirs should continue to maintain physical distancing from congregation while singing.

Funerals

• 25 people across the venue before density limits apply (exc staff).
• If funerals wish to have more than 25 people, they can apply:
  • 25 people across the venue before density limits apply (exc staff).
  • If funerals wish to have more than 25 people, they can apply:

Weddings

• 25 people across the venue before density limits apply (exc staff).
• If more than 25 people, venues can apply:
  • One person per two square metres within each indoor space (exc staff), and
  • One person per two square metres within each outdoor space (exc staff).
• Eating and drinking while standing is permitted.
• Dancing is permitted.

 

FITNESS AND SPORT

Gyms, Health Clubs, Fitness Centres or Wellness Centres, Personal Training and Bootcamps

• 25 people across the venue before density limits apply (exc staff).
• If businesses wish to have more than 25 people, they can apply:
  • One person per two square metres per usable indoor space (exc staff).
  • No density limits apply to outdoor spaces.
• Class sizes limited by density restrictions.

 

View the full ACT Roadmap HERE.