Parliament House shuts its doors as political staffer tests positive for Covid-19

Parliament House has shut its doors to the public after a staff member for Greens party leader Adam Bandt tested positive for Covid-19.

The building will now be closed to the public until further notice, while Mr Bandt is in isolation awaiting the results of a Covid test.

ACT Health said the staffer returned a positive test on return from Canberra to their home state of Victoria.

Health authorities are now working to identify possible close contacts and exposure locations at Parliament House and elsewhere in Canberra between November 30 and December 2.

In a statement the Greens announced other colleagues of the infected staffer had tested negative for the virus.

“A fully vaccinated staff member on Adam Bandt‘s team, who was in Canberra during the last sitting week, has today [Saturday] tested positive to Covid,” the party said.

“They are currently working with ACT Health to determine if they were infectious while in Canberra.

“Other members of the team have been tested and returned negative results.

Greens senator Nick McKim has also been tested and received a negative result but is continuing to isolate out of caution.

Politicians, staffers, and other people working in Parliament House during the last sitting week were required to wear masks in communal areas and use Covid check in apps.

Any exposure locations from the new case will be announced later on Sunday.