October 19, 2021 | By Bronwen Largier
The ACT Government has tweaked its reopening roadmap to allow non-essential retail to reopen from Friday and has expanded freedoms set to be granted on Friday next week, including greater allowances for events.
Despite Canberra’s lockdown lifting last Friday and Australia’s capital having the highest first dose rate in Australia, non-essential retail has remained on a click-and-collect or appointment basis, a restriction that will be lifted on Friday.
From 29 October, hospitality venues will be allowed up to 300 patrons, providing a one person per four square metres density is followed indoors, with one person per two square metres allowed outdoors. This is double the original outdoors cap of 150 people and three times to original cap of 100 indoors.
Organised and ticketed events are also getting a boost, with events indoors and outdoors allowed to proceed with up to 500 attendees, providing the same density limits are followed. Indoor events without fixed seating were capped at 150 in the previous iteration of the roadmap.
From November 1, ACT will also allow free travel to all of New South Wales, without the need to quarantine when returning to the capital.