There is a "rapidly evolving situation" in Canberra's jail, with 47 male detainees positive to COVID-19 as of Monday at 8am.
An additional 160 inmates at the Alexander Maconochie Centre may have been exposed to COVID positive detainees during their infectious period, the Justice and Community Safety Directorate has said.
"An increase in COVID-19 positive detainees was anticipated as day six tests were undertaken on detainees considered high-risk exposures," a spokesperson said.
