The removal of quarantine requirements for household close contacts comes as a relief for Fiona Tollis, whose household of nine spent weeks in isolation when a family member contracted COVID.
'We've had a situation where one person did get COVID in our household, and then subsequently, we all got it," Ms Tollis said.
Though the house of seven kids and two adults were happy to comply with the rules, they did take a toll, Ms Tollis said.
"Each time someone then tested positive the seven days started again, and so the two of us who got it at the end ended up isolating for nearly three weeks altogether."
The changes outline that those who cannot work or study from home are able to return to their place of work and study if they return a negative test in the 24 hours prior, and then every 48 hours thereafter. Anyone aged 12 and over is required to wear a mask in indoor settings.
Being able to step and out and pick up groceries or medical supplies will be a huge help if the family were affected by the coronavirus again, Ms Tollis said.
"But I do agree that it's really important to keep the community safe too. So I think the idea of people ... wearing masks and doing rapid antigen tests and things like that is definitely a positive."
Parents wait to hear about rules for schoolkids
The changes announced by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on Thursday do not specify what will be required of schoolchildren who are close contacts.
For Ms Tollis, whose family includes children of varying ages, home learning was "quite tricky".
Chief executive of Communities at Work Lee Maiden said allowing children to attend services such as daycare and before and after school programs would be a good move.
"I think families will appreciate it because even if you've got your children at home, if this rule changes, they still could be attending a centre," she said.
"We're still very mindful in our services that our educators are wearing masks, we've got a lot of hygiene considerations."
Meantime, the Canberra Business Chamber has welcomed the changes, with about 25 per cent of local employers reporting the impacts of staffing shortages.
"We've been hearing regularly from businesses who are forced to close or reduce their operations due to staff shortages, while their healthy workers remained in isolation at home, unable to work because of isolation rules," business chamber chief executive Graham Catt said in a statement.
"Bookings are cancelled, goods and services can't be provided to customers, and many businesses are now months behind in filling orders."
The co-owner of Braddon's Italian and Sons and Bacaro venues Pasquale Trimboli said he felt optimistic about the changes but would go forward with caution.
"The general reaction is always positive in the sense that they are allowing your business to get back to normal, however, you do need to pair it with a little bit of a care and a little bit of caution," he said.
Mr Trimboli said his business had experienced closures due to staffing shortages.
"We have a 27-year-old business and we understand that you might miss out on a week or two but it's the long-term game that you're playing."
"[It comes back to] having a good work culture ... where everyone respects not just the clients, but the staff."
