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ACT school closes after COVID-19 exposure

Andrew BrownAAP
The National Portrait Gallery has reopened to the public after the ACT eased COVID-19 restrictions.
Camera IconThe National Portrait Gallery has reopened to the public after the ACT eased COVID-19 restrictions. Credit: AAP

All ACT school students will return to classrooms on Monday, despite three schools in the region being forced to closed due to positive cases.

A school in Canberra's inner north and two across the border in nearby Queanbeyan were closed on Friday after they were listed as COVID exposure sites.

A return to in-person learning in the ACT has been staggered, with most year groups already being back in classrooms.

The last cohort, which include years three, four, five, seven and eight, will return to school on Monday.

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It comes as 10 new COVID cases were reported in Canberra on Friday, the same day restrictions in the capital were wound back.

The number of patients in hospital with COVID in the ACT has also fallen to nine, with six of those in intensive care and five on a ventilator.

Vaccine rates in the capital continue to rise, which now sits at 92.3 per cent of those 12 and over being fully vaccinated.

After several days of health authorities expressing concern with low testing rates, testing numbers increased to 1680.

Canberrans are set to enjoy their first weekend of additional freedoms.

Masks are no longer mandated to be worn outdoors, with 10 visitors allowed in the home and gatherings of 30 people outdoors permitted.

Density limits have also increased for cafes, restaurants and pubs.

Many places that have been closed to the public since the start of the Canberra lockdown in August will also be allowed to reopen to the public.

Among them are cinemas, performance venues, food courts, dance classes, entertainment venues and attractions such as museums, galleries and zoos.

Hairdressers and beauty services, churches, community centres, gyms, swimming pools and casinos will also be allowed to let in more people, subject to density limits.

It comes before the resumption of travel to all of NSW and Victoria on November 1.

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