Contact tracing
A significant contact tracing effort is underway to contact those people who have visited public exposure sites in Darwin and Katherine and make sure they are isolating and getting tested.
The positive case and a close contact were transferred from Katherine to the Centre of National Resilience yesterday and are in isolation and undertaking quarantine.
As at 9am, NT Health contact tracers had identified 99 close contacts, of which 73 are in quarantine in the NT, 11 are interstate and 15 contacts are being further investigated. There have been 304 casual contacts identified and SMS messages have been sent to these people informing them to isolate and get tested.
Testing
A total of 1846 COVID-19 tests were undertaken across the NT yesterday. All COVID-19 tests undertaken at this time have returned a negative result. Further COVID-19 test results are expected later today.
Thank you to the Greater Darwin and Katherine communities for swiftly responding to the lockdown restrictions. We know how hard lockdowns are for everybody but we need to take action early to slow any spread of COVID-19 in our communities and reduce the number of people leaving their homes and moving around the NT.
If you live in a community outside of the Greater Darwin or Katherine lockdown areas, it is important you stay where you are and do not travel into lockdown areas unless it is an emergency or for essential items. If you are already in the Greater Darwin or Katherine lockdown areas but live in community, it is important you remain at the place you are staying at right now.
It is important all people in the Northern Territory continue to check the COVID-19 website to review the list of NT public exposure sites as it is regularly updated as new information is provided through contact tracing.
You only need to get a COVID-19 test if you have been to a public exposure site at the dates and times specified, or if you have symptoms.
To arrange a COVID test, book online at coronavirus.nt.gov.au or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484.
The Marrara Drive-Through Testing Site in Darwin is open until 8pm tonight. Bookings are not required.
When attending the Marrara Drive-Through Testing Site please ensure you wear a mask, stay in your car and bring photo ID and your Medicare card. You can also get tested at the Royal Darwin Hospital Pandemic Clinic and the Palmerston GP Super Clinic (Respiratory Clinic).
The Katherine Hospital COVID-19 Drive Through Testing Site is open until 8pm today while a new Katherine COVID-19 walk-in testing site will open at the Katherine Community Health Care Centre today from midday to 4.30pm. No bookings are required for this new testing site.
Vaccination
Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the five reasons to leave home during lockdown in Greater Darwin and Katherine.
A new COVID-19 Vaccine Pop-Up Clinic has opened in Katherine and an additional 1000 COVID-19 vaccine doses will be available over the coming days for the Katherine community.
NT Health has fast-tracked doses from the Katherine allocation to expand access for residents and make sure the community can be vaccinated as soon as possible.
The Katherine COVID-19 Vaccine Pop-Up Clinic is located at the School Oval at the Corner of O’Shea Terrace and Second Street, Katherine. Parking is via O’Shea Terrace. The Katherine COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic will continue to operate.
Book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for clinics across the Northern Territory.
