The Northern Territory has recorded four new cases of COVID-19 overnight.
An international flight crew member in her 40s who arrived in Darwin on a flight from London on Friday has tested positive for COVID-19. She is symptomatic and has been transferred to the Centre for National Resilience.
The international flight crew member was staying in the Darwin CBD as part of a Chief Health Officer approved COVID safe management plan. Seven close contacts are in isolation. Passengers on this flight did not disembark in Darwin and travelled to Sydney.
The other three cases are related to the current NT outbreak, bringing the total number of cases to 56.
The new cases include:
· A child under the age of 10 from Robinson River
· A woman in her 20s from Robinson River
· A man in his 40s from Katherine
All new cases are known household contacts of earlier cases and have been in the Centre for National Resilience for their entire infectious period.
Extensive contact tracing remains underway, with 537 close contacts identified to date for cluster two. Of these, 536 have been contacted and are in isolation while 518 have returned a negative test.
Yesterday, 1283 COVID-19 tests were processed across the NT including 252 in Katherine.
Borroloola, Barunga, Amanbidji, Bulla, Dagaragu, Kalkaringi, Beswick, Rockhole, Walpiri, Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy have all returned negative wastewater results.
Binjari wastewater testing remains positive, as expected due to the recent COVID-19 cases in the community.
Wastewater testing for the Bicentennial Road site in Katherine remains a presumptive (weak) positive, indicating that the signal strength is declining.
Lajamanu
At 8pm on 27 November, Lajamanu and the surrounding homelands went into lockdown following positive wastewater results. The lockdown is in place until 6pm on 11 December 2021.
The Rapid Assessment Team was deployed to Lajamanu last night and additional resources will arrive today to provide a care team of 43 people on the ground. The Rapid Assessment Team is made up of health staff, Police and staff from the Katherine West Health Board.
Last night, 71 COVID-19 tests were undertaken and these arrived in Darwin for processing this morning. The focus of the Rapid Assessment Team today is to undertake further COVID-19 testing and provide the COVID-19 vaccine to community members. NT Health will also be providing the COVID-19 vaccine to the Yuendumu community today.
There is currently a testing direction in place for Lajamanu which requires anyone who has been in the community since 15 November 2021 to isolate, get tested for COVID-19, and stay in isolation until a negative result is received.
Testing
It is important that anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms get tested immediately.
The Katherine Hospital Pandemic Clinic (Drive-Through Testing Site) is open today from 9am to 3pm.
COVID-19 testing sites are also open in Greater Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy. Testing is also available at NT Health clinics in remote communities.
To arrange a COVID-19 test please book online or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484.
Public exposure sites continue to be updated. It is important all people in the NT check the COVID-19 website regularly to review the list of NT public exposure sites here.
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in our communities, it is important for everyone to follow all health directions and vaccinations for all those eligible.
· Book your COVID-19 vaccine
· Check in using The Territory Check In App every time, everywhere
· If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19
· Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly
· Do not go to work if you feel sick
· Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres where possible.
