The ACT has recorded its highest daily COVID-19 increase with 58 new infections.

It comes as testing clinics across Canberra are overwhelmed with demand ahead of Christmas.

Some of the testing clinics have been forced to close due to reaching capacity less than two hours after opening on Wednesday.

Wednesday’s 58 cases amounts to the highest one-day COVID-19 total in Canberra. The previous high was 52 in early October.

Government clinics processed 6966 results from Tuesday, making it the national capital’s fourth highest testing day.

Mandatory masks have been brought back for indoor settings in the ACT including across retail, hospitality, workplaces and aged care.

Three people remain in hospital with the virus and none are in intensive care.

Canberra has 174 active infections. That number has nearly tripled in the past week.

The territory’s full vaccination rate remains at 98.4 per cent of people aged 12 and older.

– AAP