Police to investigate after woman ‘lies’ on border entry form, puts SA on alert and sparks NT lockdown

Police have taken over the case of a young Queensland woman who allegedly lied on a border entry form as she entered SA before testing positive to Covid in the NT.

The case of a woman who put South Australia on alert and sparked a lockdown in the Northern Territory after allegedly lying on her border entry form and travelling to SA has been referred to police.

SA Health had been investigating the 21-year-old woman’s movements after she allegedly travelled to SA from Melbourne on October 24 and then tested positive for Covid-19 in the NT on Saturday.

The department on Monday afternoon said its interviews with the woman had gleaned no further information and “the matter has been handed over to SAPOL”.

There were no new cases of Covid-19 recorded in SA on Monday.

“She is believed to have stayed overnight in SA before flying to NT,” SA Health said in an earlier statement.

“It is unlikely she was infectious while in SA however the investigation will determine any risk.”

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said on Sunday she failed to declare she had been in Melbourne when she entered the Territory.

“These actions have put the Territory at risk,” Mr Gunner said.

“They forced Katherine into lockdown and forced Katherine business to shut.”

Earlier, a new Covid case in the NT – separate to the woman – triggered fresh travel restrictions.

Passengers arriving at Adelaide Airport and going through the Covid test. Picture: File

Vaccinated, returning South Australians and NT residents who are vaccinated must isolate until they receive a negative day one test, then get tested again on days five and 13.

Returning SA residents who are not vaccinated and families with some unvaccinated members must self-quarantine for 14 days and adhere to testing requirements.

Nobody else is allowed to enter SA from the NT. There are no restrictions on travellers entering the NT from SA.

Parts of the NT are in a snap lockdown after a man in his 20s tested positive. Health officials are yet to determine how the unvaccinated man contracted Covid.

However, he was working at the RAAF Base Tindal in Katherine when he returned a positive test, prompting the region to enter a 72-hour lockdown. It is the NT’s first case of community transmission since the start of the pandemic.

The man also visited businesses in Darwin, with the city entering its first “lockout” which only applies to unvaccinated people.

Two Victorians at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday have also tested positive, exposing thousands to the virus.

Travellers at Adelaide Airport. Picture: File

National cabinet met on Friday to discuss vaccine strategy and how hospital systems will cope as restrictions around the country ease.

Meanwhile, people who don’t get booster jabs will still be considered fully vaccinated against Covid-19, at least for the time being, Premier Steven Marshall says.

Mr Marshall said on Friday the decision on whether to get a third jab would not affect vaccine passports, however it would add “yet another layer of protection” when the state’s borders reopen on November 23.

He said national cabinet had not made a final decision on how boosters could eventually affect the vaccine passport program.

“My understanding is that, at this stage, just the two doses will be what’s included in the vaccination passport, but we’ll get further advice from the national cabinet,” Mr Marshall said.

The Advertiser reported on Friday boosters would be available to frontline workers immediately and to the broader community from December 1.

Bookings for Pfizer booster doses will be available at all SA Health vaccination clinics.

That booster will be available to all eligible people regardless of which vaccine was administered for their initial two doses. To receive one you must be aged at least 18 and six months must have passed since your second dose. Aged and disability care staff and residents are eligible from Monday.