The Territory has been one of the safest places in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For two years the actions of Territorians prevented the virus spreading through the community. When the time came to relax controls, high vaccination rates were the key to protecting Territorians. Today almost every eligible Territorian aged five years and over has been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Since February 2021, more than 583,000 COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in the NT.
NT Health provided approximately 800 vaccinations per week during the initial phase of the vaccine rollout and reached almost 9,000 vaccinations per week at its peak in September 2021. Aboriginal health organisations, GPs and community pharmacies have also been vital in making the COVID-19 vaccine accessible to the community.
It is still vital that all Territorians aged five years and over stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation.
From tomorrow, 1 July 2022, NT Health Vaccination Centres will close due to the Territory’s high vaccination rates. The vaccine remains widely available at participating GP clinics, pharmacies, respiratory clinics and Aboriginal health clinics.
In total, around 78,000 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the NT, approximately 600 of which were recorded in 2021.
The largest number of COVID-19 cases recorded on a single day in the NT was 1,190 on 2 February 2022. The number of active cases peaked at 7,407 on 7 February 2022 and the largest number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 at any one time was 179 on 8 February 2022.
More than 60,000 positive Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) have been registered with COVID CareNT and around 18,000 PCR tests have returned positive results.
Since COVID-19 was first detected in Australia in January 2020, NT Health pathology teams have processed almost 800,000 PCR tests.
From tomorrow, Rapid Antigen Tests will be available from a number of participating GP clinics and can also be purchased from pharmacies and supermarkets.
From Saturday 2 July 2022, NT Health will move away from the current daily COVID-19 media release.
COVID-19 information will continue to be reported through NT Health’s social media accounts and the website here each day.
Thank you Territorians – NT Health Acting Chief Health Officer, Dr Charles Pain
“I would like to thank Territorians for the success of our response to COVID-19.
“When a lock-down was announced, Territorians stayed home. When vaccinations were made available, Territorians got jabbed. When mask mandates were introduced, Territorians obligingly put them on.
“The pandemic saw an unprecedented interagency response with one shared goal – to protect our most vulnerable. From those on the frontline to those working tirelessly behind the scenes, it’s been a remarkable collective effort. Health workers, emergency service providers, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and countless others drove themselves to the limits of their endurance to keep us safe.
“Thank you all so much for playing your part in keeping us safe.”
