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AAP
AAP
Health
Andrew Brown

ACT records 455 cases, visitor ban eased

Patients in ACT hospitals will be allowed two visitors a day, but many can only have one at a time. (AAP)

The ACT has recorded 455 new cases of COVID-19, as hospital restrictions in Canberra are set to ease.

Of the new cases, 218 were from PCR tests while there were 237 positive rapid antigen test results.

Hospitalisations have fallen slightly from 51 to 49 patients with COVID-19.

There remain four patients being treated in intensive care for the virus while two of those are on a ventilator.

It comes as visitors will be allowed back into ACT hospitals from Wednesday, after previously being banned due to the Omicron wave.

Patients will be allowed two visitors per day, but only allowed one at a time.

For children in hospitals, two parents or carers can attend together, but only one will be allowed to stay overnight.

Patients who are giving birth can have two support people with them but only one may be in the operating room for caesarean sections.

Compassionate exceptions to the new visitor rules will be determine on a case-by-case basis.

Health officials have advised for children under five to not visit hospital.

ACT Health said the decision to ease restrictions came after carefully considering the COVID-19 situation in the territory.

"Visitors to clinical areas where patients are at higher risk of severe disease will still need to apply directly to the health facility for an exemption," a health spokesman said,.

"The decision to restrict visitors to our health services is always a difficult one, but it ensures we can protect the health and safety of patients, staff and their loved ones."

The latest vaccination data showed 61.4 per cent of those 16 and over have had booster shots while 76.2 per cent of five to 11-year-olds have had their first dose.

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