Casual COVID-19 contacts in the ACT will no longer have to isolate if they are fully vaccinated, while the time in quarantine for close contacts will be halved.
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The changes to quarantine measures, announced by the ACT's chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman, comes as Canberra reached 90 per cent of eligible residents being fully vaccinated.
The changes will be implemented from November 1.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr also flagged some COVID restrictions around density limits and larger events could be eased earlier than expected in mid-November.
Under the quarantine changes, close contacts will only have to quarantine for seven days as opposed to 14, and will need to record a negative test on day six.
The changes would only apply for people who are fully vaccinated, with the unvaccinated still needing to isolate for 14 days.
Casual contacts will still need to isolate until they receive a negative test, but will not have to quarantine afterwards.
A precautionary test may be needed in some instances.
The quarantine changes coincide with the further easing of COVID restrictions in the capital from this Friday.
Household gathering limits will double from five to 10, while 30 people can gather outdoors.
Community sport will be able to recommence, while cinemas and performance venues can reopen.
Masks will no longer be mandated outdoors and density limits will increase for pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Interstate travel will resume on November 1 to all of NSW and Victoria.
The chief minister said travel restrictions could still apply to specific geographic areas on a case-by-case basis if there was a large outbreak.
"This will not be a large number of high-risk areas, but there may be some and this could change in the months ahead," Mr Barr said.
"With the further easing of restrictions, Canberrans have been enjoying a range of activities they haven't been able to do for a while."
The chief health officer said since the start of the outbreak more than two-thirds of all cases were unvaccinated.
The ACT recorded 10 new local cases on Wednesday, while the number of hospital admissions due to COVID has decreased to 11, with six in intensive care.
Health officials have expressed concern with low testing numbers in recent days.
Dr Coleman said the lower case numbers could be due to a drop in testing rates, higher vaccination levels or a combination of both.
Australian Associated Press
