ACT records 15 new cases, bringing total outbreak to 601

Canberra has recorded 15 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, bringing the national capital’s total outbreak to 601.

Of the 15 new cases, two were in isolation for their entire infectious period, seven were contagious out in the community, and the remaining six are under investigation.

Seven of the transmissions have been linked to existing cases while eight remain under investigation.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr confirmed eight Canberrans were now in hospital with Covid-19, including one person in intensive care on ventilation.

Mr Barr said concerns had arisen the ACT might not receiving its entitled share of the additional Pfizer doses arriving from the UK.

The four million extra Pfizer jabs arriving from overseas were set to be distributed on a per capita basis.

But the Chief Minister said there had been an error in the number assigned to the ACT.

“National cabinet met for around two and a half hours yesterday. During the meeting, I raised concerns with the Prime Minister about the projected vaccination supply for the ACT,” Mr Barr said.

“Under the proposed Pfizer supply to be allocated to the territory for October, it appeared that the Commonwealth had reduced the territory’s allocation.”

Mr Barr said Prime Minister Scott Morrison noted his concerns about the vaccine allocation during national cabinet and conversations were now underway between the ACT government and the federal Health Minister’s office.

“We’ve had some initial assurances that there was no intention to reduce the vaccine supply for October,” Mr Barr said.

“We hope to get further clarification on the week by week supply schedule of Pfizer for October over the course of this weekend.”

The ACT maintains the highest jab rate in the nation with 56.1 per cent of its population over 16 now fully vaccinated.

Canberra’s lockdown was extended by another four weeks on Tuesday following persistent increases in case numbers and is now set to end on October 15.