The Northern Territory has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, one acquired from interstate, the other from an international repatriation flight.
A 53-year-old male who travelled to Darwin International Airport from Newcastle via Brisbane on 17 September 2021, tested positive for COVID-19 last night. The man is asymptomatic and is under the care of NT Health at the NT Centre for National Resilience.
In line with CHO Directions, the man, who was a returning NT resident, travelled directly from Darwin Airport to the Centre for National Resilience in Howard Springs to undertake mandatory, supervised quarantine. The man travelled with a mask on.
Contact tracing is underway with 24 close contacts identified. Twenty close contacts from the flight have been identified and contacted and are now undertaking 14 days of mandatory quarantine. An additional two Border Entry staff and two ADF staff have also been identified as close contacts and are also undertaking quarantine.
The remaining 111 people on the Jeststar Flight JQ674 from Queensland to Darwin have been identified as casual contacts. These people are required to self-isolate immediately at a suitable place and get tested for COVID-19 tomorrow. Testing is required tomorrow to allow for a 72-hour period from the exposure time to ensure accurate test results. Identified casual contacts are required to remain in isolation until a negative test is returned. Contact tracing work is continuing.
In addition, a 29-year-old female, who arrived on the repatriation flight from Pakistan on 17 September 2021 has tested positive for COVID-19.
She is mildly symptomatic and is under the care of NT Health at the NT Centre for National Resilience.
The total number of cases diagnosed in the Northern Territory is 207.
It is very important that if you have symptoms, you get tested for COVID-19.
Book your COVID-19 test online at https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/ [https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/stay-safe/booking-your-covid-19-vaccine] or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484.
The aim is for at least 80 per cent of Territorians to been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 2021. Book your COVID-19 Vaccine at [https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/stay-safe/booking-your-covid-19-vaccine]
Quotes attributable to Acting Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Anthony Carpenter:
"The Northern Territory's strict border entry requirements continue to keep us protected from COVID-19. This latest positive case had the potential to lead to an outbreak, but our Directions caught the positive case at the border and prevented any community spread.
"This latest case serves as a reminder that COVID-19 will come the NT, as Australia starts to open and we implement our COVID-19 roadmap.
"The best way to protect yourself and your family for when COVID-19 comes to the Territory, is by making sure you have the COVID vaccine.
"Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and even death if you contract COVID-19."
