Darwin and Katherine plunged into lockdown after positive Covid-19 case

Parts of the Northern Territory have been plunged into a three-day lockdown with authorities warning they have to assume the worst.

Greater Darwin and Katherine were plunged into a three day lockdown at 12pm after a positive Covid-19 case was recorded.

A man in his 30s tested positive for the virus after he travelled to the Northern Territory on Thursday upon completing a 14-day quarantine period in Sydney.

He then transited from Sydney to Darwin via Canberra Airport on Qantas flight QF1429 before travelling by taxi to the Hilton Hotel in Darwin.

On Friday morning, he travelled via an Uber to collect a hire car before then travelling to a number of locations across the Darwin CBD.

The Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it was not yet known if the man has the Delta strain.

The man was tested, as per Northern Territory requirements after exiting hotel quarantine, before driving to Katherine for work purposes.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it was not yet known if he was infected with the Delta strain and warned there was a very “real risk” the virus had been transmitted to others.

“We do not know yet the variant of this virus. We are assuming it is the Delta strain,” he said.

“Critically, we do not know the source of his infection. We do not know if he caught it in hotel quarantine, during his time at the Canberra Airport or at any other time during his transit.

“And while his contact in the community both in Darwin and in Katherine was limited, it was extensive enough to greatly concern us

“There is a very real risk that this virus has been transmitted to others. There is a very real risk that those people have travelled elsewhere in the community and there is a very real risk that this includes contact with our vulnerable populations.

“When we don’t know everything, we have to start by assuming the worst.”

From 5pm, Greater Darwin and Katherine residents can only leave home for the following reasons:

– To shop for essential goods and services

– Medical treatment, including Covid-19 testing or vaccination

– Work that is considered essential and can’t be done at home

– To exercise, for no more than one hour a day, with one other person or your household no further than 5km from your home.

– To provide care or support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.

In order to further limit movement, residents have been urged to use click-and-collect services where possible.

Masks must be also be worn by individuals in lockdown areas.

Parts of the NT have been ordered into a snap three-day lockdown. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Children in the NT will get three days off school with only students of essential workers allowed on campus.

Top End residents have been urged to only get tested if they experience symptoms or have been identified as a close contact.

“Last time in Darwin sadly there were too many people getting tested because they were worried,” he said.

“There are clinical reasons for getting a test, being a contact from an exposure site as a reason, being sick as a reason, being worried is not a reason to get the test.

“If you line up for a test without needing one takes us longer to do our job, which could make the lockdown longer, please don't do that, staying home is the best thing you can do.”

A lockdown extension was also not ruled out.

It’s the second lockdown in three months for many in the Top End. Alice Springs and Greater Darwin was sent into lockdown in June after a number of workers at the Tanami mine tested positive to the virus.

Originally published as Darwin and Katherine plunged into lockdown after positive Covid-19 case