Canberra is set for a 'very quiet' COVID-19 lockdown weekend as ACT authorities race to get people tested - ABC News

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has told Canberrans this weekend will be "very quiet", as the territory grapples with an evolving COVID-19 situation.

Hundreds of Canberrans turned out to the mass testing clinics across Friday, prompting ACT Health to stop people from attending past 4:00pm.

Many in the queues reported wait times of up to 12 hours, as the ACT government listed up to 3,900 people as casual and close contacts of the territory's six known cases.

Queues at the EPIC drive-through clinic in Canberra as people waited hours for a COVID-19 test.(

ABC News: Toby Hunt

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Mr Barr said it was important that people respected the rules of lockdown this weekend.

"What we need is people to stay at home, to not mix with other people," he said.

"Now is not the time to pop over and see mum or dad, or your cousins or your brothers and sisters or your mates.

"Stay at home, do the right thing by yourself, your family and this community."

Frosty fields and parks remain empty.(

ABC News: Selby Stewart

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Canberra's ovals and fields — usually teeming with children playing Saturday morning sport — are closed. But Canberrans can engage in one hour of outdoor exercise per day with one other person — or more than two people only if they are all from the same household.

"If you live alone – you are able to identify one other household, one other person to be your 'bubble buddy' for this time," Mr Barr said.

Empty precincts in Civic, as restaurants remain open for takeaway only.(

ABC News: Donal Sheil

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The city's usually-bustling cafe and restaurant scene has also been quietened, with hospitality venues only able to offer takeaway.

And, the evenings won't be busier either, with nightclubs and bars forced to close their doors. 

Largely empty light rail vehicles disappeared into the fog on the ACT's first day of a seven-day lockdown.(

ABC Canberra: Michael Black

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Help for those who can't stay home

And, as the city streets lay empty, dedicated volunteers from not-for-profit charity Givit will spend their weekend handing out hundreds of re-usable masks to the city's homeless, and crisis accommodation services.

Givit ACT's engagement officer Kristi Clark said in the past 24 hours, demand for the service had surged.

GIVIT volunteers will spend the weekend providing help to those who don't have a home to lockdown in.(

Supplied: GIVIT

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"We are providing reusable face masks for these individuals because they just don't have that funding available to go out and purchase these things, so having it means they can actually go out into the community, they can still go to the shops and can still go to those essential services," she said.

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The organisation is also handing out food vouchers to vulnerable Canberrans so they still access the essential supplies required during lockdown.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA4LTE0L2NvdmlkLTE5LWNhbmJlcnJhLWxvY2tkb3duLXdlZWtlbmQtYWN0LXJhY2VzLXRvLXRlc3QtY29udGFjdHMvMTAwMzc2ODU40gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDM3Njg1OA?oc=5

2021-08-13 22:23:13Z
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