NT enters lockout, strict lockdown for unvaccinated as 256 new Covid cases recorded

The Territory is in a lockout, or lockdown for the unvaccinated, until Monday noon as cases continue to climb

UPDATE: Chief Minister Michael Gunner has announced a Territory wide lockout from 1pm as cases continue to climb.

The lockout will last until noon on Monday when a vaccine pass system will be put into action.

A lockout means that people who are double vaccinated can go about their lives as normal.

However, unvaccinated people can only leave their homes for one of three reasons, those being medical treatment, to collect essential goods and services and to provide care and support.

In previous lockouts unvaccinated people were able to leave their homes for work and exercise, that is no longer the case.

“There has been plenty of time for people to get vaccinated,” Mr Gunner said.

“People who are not fully vaccinated present the greatest risk of spreading the virus and are most at risk of getting seriously ill if they get the virus.

“The fully vaccinated are free to continue to go about their lives as long as they comply with the Territory wide mask mandate.

“What we are making sure is that the unvaccinated are not exposed in a high risk hospitality setting because they are at a higher risk of going to hospital.”

Mr Gunner said that the measures were needed to curb rising rates on community transmission on a day where 256 new cases had been recorded.

Of those cases 27 cases were community transmission, 88 were interstate arrivals and 112 were under investigation.

There are currently 23 people in hospital with two in intensive care, one of which is on a ventilator.

“The best thing you can do for yourself and for your family is to get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a mask, wash your hands and get tested when you have symptoms,” Mr Gunner said.

“We’re not turning anyone away, if you need a test we will get you one knowing that the sooner you’re tested the better.”

EARLIER: Minister Michael Gunner will provide a Covid-19 update to Territorians around 12.30pm.

Mr Gunner will be joined by Chief Medical Officer Hugh Heggie and Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker.

It was another record breaking day of Covid cases on Wednesday with the NT recording 117 new cases, with at least one patient currently in intensive care at Royal Darwin Hospital.

It was the first time that the daily new cases in the NT had exceeded triple digits with most being from the Darwin area.

Originally published as NT enters lockout, strict lockdown for unvaccinated as 256 new Covid cases recorded