The Northern Territory has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.
These include:
· A 33-year-old male from Katherine who is an identified close contact and has been in quarantine since 15 November. He has been admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital due to underlying health conditions.
· A 59-year-old female from Katherine who had not been identified as a close contact but came forward for testing because she had COVID-19 symptoms. She is an extended family member of a previously recorded case. Further contact tracing is underway.
Genomic sequencing results yesterday confirmed that clusters one and two in the NT COVID-19 outbreak are linked. This means the total number of cases from the single NT outbreak is 25.
Extensive contact tracing remains underway, with 373 close contacts identified to date for cluster two. Of these, 360 close contacts have been contacted and are isolating while 215 have returned a negative test. Close contacts will continue to be tested for COVID-19 regularly throughout their 14-day quarantine period.
Wastewater results for the period 17 - 18 November were positive for the Binjari community, located outside the Katherine township. A Rapid Assessment Team has been dispatched to Binjari to undertake COVID-19 testing and provide COVID-19 vaccinations today.
Wastewater results for other catchment sites in Katherine were also positive, which was not unexpected given the location of cases from the outbreak. No other unexpected results were detected in wastewater across the NT.
COVID-19 testing
To help identify the missing link between cluster one and two, anyone in Katherine who has been to a public exposure site, who has been identified as a close contact or has had even the mildest of symptoms since the start of the NT outbreak on Friday 29 October is asked to get tested. Testing is the key to finding the missing links in the outbreak and tracing and trapping the virus.
The Katherine East Side Clinic is located in the Youth Outreach Building in the Eastside Shop Complex and is open today from 8.30am - 6pm. Bookings are preferred.
The Katherine Hospital Pandemic Clinic (Drive-Through Testing Site) is open daily from 9am to 10pm. Bookings are preferred.
The Katherine walk-in COVID-19 testing clinic is open daily from 8:30am - 6:00pm. Bookings are preferred.
In Darwin, the Marrara Drive-Through Testing Site is open today from 8am - 6pm. Bookings are preferred.
COVID-19 testing sites are also open in 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 here or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484, which will remain open until 10:00pm tonight.
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.
Lockdown
A lockdown remains in place in Katherine and Robinson River until 6pm on Monday 22 November. Residents must stay at home for the lockdown period and are only permitted to leave for five reasons. These include medical treatment including COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, essential goods and services, essential work, exercise and to provide care and support to a family member.
A Territory-wide mask mandate also remains in place.
