NT Covid response switches from lockdown in lock-in

NT Gov has called on Territorians to take some “personal responsibility” after scrapping interstate travel testing requirements and locking in residents of remote communities.

UPDATE 4PM: THE government has called on Territorians to take some “personal responsibility” after scrapping interstate travel testing requirements and locking in residents of remote communities.

Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie said the Territorian outbreak reached equivalent infection rates of other states with 5150 active cases — more than 2 per cent of the NT population.

Dr Heggie said the Territory was in the peak of the latest outbreak, with 849 cases recorded on Sunday and 121 patients in hospital.

Central Australia bore a disproportionate brunt of the outbreak with 22 per cent of all active Covid patients.

Yet, Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the end of lockouts in several communities, including Alice Springs, saying they had “limited success” in slowing the spread of Omicron.

Mr Gunner said the highly infectious strain and the nature of remote communities being “like one big household” mean lockdowns and lockouts were less effective.

“Our priorities now have to be ensuring we can limit spread between communities and focusing our efforts on caring for sick people rather than using up manpower and hours and enforcing stay-at-home orders,” he said.

Mr Gunner said travel restrictions between the five remote communities of Ampilatwatja, Palumpa, Milingimbi, Milikapiti, Elcho Island (including Galiwin’ku) and the Wessel Islands (including Martjanba) and major centres would be in place for a week with non-essential transport to cease.

“You will be able to freely move about your community with the mask mandate and the vaccine pass rules in place. However, you will not be able to leave,” he said.

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said officers would be patrolling roads and working with the community to “round up” and fine those attempting to leave.

He dismissed calls for more resource intensive measures – like supply deliveries, road blocks and lockdowns – saying there had been a “catastrophisation” of Covid.

Mr Chalker instead calling on communities to be more “resilient” in the pandemic.

“You need to look after those people that are Covid positive. The strength of family, the strength of culture needs to come to the fore,” he said.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Chalker said the government would work with other Land Councils if they wished to “opt in” to a lock-in.

Mr Gunner said different models of travel restrictions had been discussed with Aboriginal health bodies, but conceded the term “lock in” was new.

AMSANT chief executive John Paterson said there was little clarity around the new measures and how they would be enforced.

“I’m completely confused, what is a lock in?” Mr Paterson said.

“How on earth is anyone going to know what they are doing – lock in, lock out, lockdowns – again we weren’t even consulted but will be left to action it.”

Mr Paterson said Covid-19 has ‘ripped out-of-control’ in remote communities and the Federal Government needs to provide urgent support, including defence personnel.

“It’s the perfect storm (for Omicron) to just overwhelm us, we have communities flooded in, foods, RAT tests and masks all in short supply and staff spread too thin,” he said.

“What we need is the Federal Government to deploy defence force support.

“We are calling for temporary shelters to be put up in some communities so our people can isolate away from overcrowded homes.

“We also need a surge workforce to roll out boosters while also helping to test, trace and treat our people.”

INITIAL 2PM: Bagot Community is in a self-imposed lockdown amid a rising Covid-19 cluster.

Community leader Natalie Harwood said the decision was made after a massive test and trace effort on Saturday.

“There is at least one positive case in every household now,” she said.

“We haven’t got the PCR results back but of the 30 RAT tests we did 18 were positive.”

The community will enter a 7 day lockdown from Sunday supported by Danila Dilba and Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation.

During swabbing on Saturday, Larrakia Nation transported 4 people with Covid to Howard Springs Quarantine Facility.

Bagot Community

The community called for a lockdown last Thursday but was told by the NT Government it wasn’t logistically possible.

Instead, Danila Dilba will provide security for the entrance of the community amid leaders’ requests.

The Darwin and Palmerston based Aboriginal health organisation will continue to provide medical support – including test and tracing which is a government responsibility.

Ms Harwood said she felt the Government didn’t listen to the warnings from community as a result the cluster is rapidly getting out-of-control.

“This is why we have called for this. We want to stay here and fight it here, together.”

The community has called for food or vouchers as donations which can be dropped off at the community hall between 12-2pm on Sunday.

Originally published as NT Covid response switches from lockdown in lock-in