ACT cases fall as restrictions set to ease

COVID-19 cases in Canberra are continuing their decline ahead of restrictions easing in the ACT on Friday.

There were eight new cases of COVID in the capital on Thursday, the lowest daily case number since September 20.

The number of cases in hospital has also decreased, which now stands at 10.

Of those, seven are in intensive care and five are on ventilators.

Canberra's nation-leading vaccine rate is also climbing, with 91.4 per cent of people aged over 12 being double-vaccinated.

Testing rates were slightly higher, with 1212 conducted on Wednesday, but health authorities have expressed concern with low rates in recent days.

It comes before the ACT further relaxing restrictions on Friday, which will include scrapping a mandate on outdoor mask use.

Density limits will also increase for cafes, pubs and restaurants, while zoos, cinemas, museums and galleries will be allowed to reopen.

Casual contacts of COVID cases will no longer need to undergo quarantine if they are fully vaccinated, but will still need to isolate until they receive a negative test result.

For close contacts, quarantine times have been halved from 14 to seven days, with a negative test needed on day six.