The Northern Territory has recorded no new additional cases of COVID-19, following the nine cases confirmed from the Binjari community last night. This brings the total number of cases from the recent NT outbreak to 35.
Additional staff have joined the rapid assessment team dispatched to Binjari to manage the response. Today the focus is on undertaking COVID-19 testing and providing COVID-19 vaccinations to the Binjari and Rockhole communities. No COVID-19 cases have been reported in Rockhole as yet.
All cases from Binjari have been transferred to the Centre for National Resilience (CNR) in Howard Springs and are in quarantine, with the exception of a 78-year-old female who was admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital. She is undergoing assessment but is in a stable condition.
Extensive contact tracing remains underway, with 385 close contacts identified to date for cluster two. Of these, 374 close contacts have been contacted and are isolating while 314 have returned a negative test. Close contacts will continue to be tested for COVID-19 regularly throughout their 14-day quarantine period.
Due to the extent of movement and between remote communities in the NT – the mask mandate will be expanded to include the Roper Gulf and Victoria-Daly Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The mask mandate for these LGAs is effective from noon today until 6pm on 4 December 2021. The mask mandate will provide an extra layer of protection and reduce the spread of COVID-19 while health teams work to trace and trap the virus.
More than 3,000 COVID-19 tests were processed across the NT yesterday, including 221 in Katherine and 175 in Robinson River as part of additional testing.
Wastewater results for the period for 19 – 20 November for Binjari and the Bicentennial Road catchment site in Katherine remain positive. Negative wastewater results were returned for the 11 other catchment sites in Katherine. The Marlow Lagoon catchment site in Palmerston, Greater Darwin was also negative and no other unexpected results were detected in wastewater across the NT.
With all known positive cases in the Bicentennial Road Catchment in Katherine East in quarantine at the CNR, it is a concern that wastewater in this area continues to be positive and may indicate unknown positive cases. As a result, all people living in Katherine East need to get tested for COVID-19 immediately to help prevent the spread of the virus.
The Katherine East Side Clinic is located in the Youth Outreach Building in the Eastside Shop Complex and is open today from 9am to 6pm.
The Katherine Hospital Pandemic Clinic (Drive-Through Testing Site) is open today from 9am to 3pm.
COVID-19 testing sites are also open in 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 here or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484.
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 here
· 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.
