From today, household COVID-19 contacts in the ACT no longer have to undergo mandatory isolation if they are symptom-free but not all Canberrans will feel the freedom of the change.
For those who are immunocompromised, the risks faced by contracting coronavirus are much greater than the average Canberran.
Not only does their compromised immunity increase their chances of experiencing severe symptoms, but it can also delay vital treatment for pre-existing conditions if they are forced to quarantine while receiving that healthcare.
Canberran musician Michael Sollis, who is immunocompromised due to advanced bowel cancer, said he believed today's changes to household contact restrictions would be beneficial for most Canberrans, but may forget the immunocompromised.
"It's terrific that they're easing restrictions and that's really beneficial for a lot of Canberrans, but it also normalises what COVID is, and in a way and makes people think that we don't have anything to worry about," he said.
"The fact that is really challenging for us to go in any indoor space is forgotten about, the fact that it's harder for us to make an income is also forgotten about, and it's also not appreciated that every restriction that eases means it's more challenging for immunocompromised people to open their doors and to go out in the world because the risk of catching COVID increases."
Living immunocompromised in a global pandemic
Throughout the global pandemic, immunocompromised people have been locked down, not just due to government public health directions, but also by a fear of their higher likelihood of contracting COVID-19.
Mr Sollis said his experience through the pandemic was straining on his family and himself.
"In May last year I was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer, which was a huge shock of course to myself, my family, and we also had our second son the day after I started chemotherapy in July," he said.
"When the lockdown hit we were unable to see anyone, but then also in the month after that — because I was immunocompromised, due to the chemotherapy and due to the bowel cancer.
"It put considerable strain on my family, with two young kids, and considerable strain on myself in terms of working and making an income where you can no longer engage in the world in the same way that you did before."
Mr Sollis said with behaviours like face mask-wearing becoming less mandated and practiced, he felt both the government and other prominent community members should be doing more to remind the public of the importance of remaining COVID-safe.
"I feel like we need more leadership to inspire others to have those safe practices," he said.
"Unless you take active action through leadership, encouraging people to continue safe practices, and through support directed towards immunocompromised people, they will continue to be left behind."
'We live with illnesses all the time'
Epidemiologist Katrina Roper of the Australian National University (ANU) said despite the potential dangers for immunocompromised Canberrans, she believed the ACT was now able to live with the virus in the community.
"Whilst that may sound scary to some people, we live with illnesses and non-communicable diseases all the time," she said.
"We're not as aware of the figures as we are aware of the figures of COVID because they're not reported on daily basis the way COVID numbers are reported."
Dr Roper said while the changes to household contact restrictions could see a rise in the territory's case numbers, and by extension severe illness and hospitalisation, the increase would not mean a larger percentage of cases would become seriously ill or require hospitalisation.
"As more people become a case, then the small percentage who are at risk of hospitalisation, well, that small number will increase just by dint of the denominator potentially increasing," she said.
Work and study from home still recommended, but not required
The eased restrictions for household contacts of COVID-19 were announced by ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith on Thursday, with the bulk of the changes focused on avoiding Canberrans missing work or school.
From today, household contacts of people with the virus will still be required to minimise their movement in the community and comply with some rules.
These include wearing a mask in all indoor settings outside the home, testing for COVID-19 on certain days after exposure, avoiding high-risk settings, and notifying ACT Health that they are a household contact of a known case.
The government has also encouraged household contacts to continue to work or study from home where it is practical to do so and let their employer know that they are a household contact.
This week, Catholic and independent schools in Canberra announced they would allow students to return to campuses if they were a household contact, going against tougher restrictions imposed in ACT public schools.
Ms Stephen-Smith said that people could still work or study outside of the home where there was "mutual agreement by the employer and the individual for them to attend work or study".
Individuals in that situation must undertake COVID-19 testing and return a negative result in the 24 hours prior to returning to work or study and then every 48 hours if ongoing attendance is required.
Exceptions also apply for those needing to attend certain gatherings, such as a funeral or to vote in an election, but only if they have returned a negative test in the 24 hours prior to attending.
Ms Stephen-Smith said a key consideration for the ACT government in their COVID-19 public health response was avoiding causing community fatigue where possible.
She said while the changes to household contact quarantine requirements might present a risk to vulnerable parts of the community, she believed Canberrans would persist in supporting them.
"What I also have seen from Canberrans is they really understand that where there is a risk to their community, they are willing to step up and do what needs to be done to protect the most vulnerable members of our community," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
Mr Sollis said he did not believe immunocompromised Canberrans were against easing any COVID restrictions, but they simply wanted to know the system would not forget about them.
"I think it's important for us not to be fearful of COVID and not to say 'look, we can't ease restrictions, we need to stay in our bubble,' I don't think that's what people who are immunocompromised are saying, but it's just to make sure we're not forgotten about," he said.
