New public exposure sites added, hours after Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced lockdown would continue for a further 72 hours
UPDATE: Two new locations have been added to the public exposure site list, in the casual contact (medium risk) category. It comes hours after the Top End Covid-19 lockdown was extended by 72 hours.
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UPDATE 4.35PM: Two new sites have been added to Darwin’s public exposure site list, both in the casual contact (medium risk) category.
Anyone who attended Stuart Park’s Corner Store Friendly Grocer (previously IGA) on Friday, June 25 between 3.20pm and 3.30pm must self-quarantine, get tested and stay in quarantine until a negative test is returned.
Anyone who attended the Commonwealth Bank on Smith St, Darwin City on Saturday, June 26 between 11.30am and 11.45am must self-quarantine, get tested and stay in quarantine until a negative test is returned.
EARLIER: The Top End Covid-19 lockdown will be extended by 72 hours to Friday, 1pm, with several public exposure sites identified.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner confirmed there was one new case of Covid-19, a man in his 50s who left the mine on June 25.
The man was in the Darwin community for 36 hours, before being moved to Howard Spring.
He was closely exposed to seven friends at mainly residence in Rapid Creek, who are now in isolation.
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City of Darwin, City of Palmerston, Litchfield, Wagait shire and Belyuen Shire, and Darwin Waterfront will all stay into lockdown.
Localities Berrimah, Northcrest, unincorporated Elrundie area, Dundee Beach, Dundee Forrest, Bynoe, Charlotte and Cox Peninsula are all required to stay in lockdown.
Mr Gunner confirmed there were a number of public exposure sites.
Close contact site (high risk)
The Buff Club on Friday, June 25 between 3.30pm and 8pm. Anyone who attended the venue is urged to self-isolate immediately and contact authorities. Up to 150 people who attended the Buff Club have been identified as at risk.
Persons who attended are required to isolate for 14 days, alongside anyone else in their household, or be taken to Howard Springs if their home is not suitable.
Casual contact sites (medium risk)
The BWS drive-thru in Parap on Saturday, June 26 from 11.50am to 12.10pm. Anyone who attended the venue is urged to self-isolate immediately and contact authorities. Anyone who attended the venue during this time must self-quarantine, get tested and stay in quarantine until a negative test is returned.
The second site is the Bunnings on Bagot Rd on Saturday, June 26 between 10.30am and 10.40am. Anyone who attended the venue during this time must self-quarantine, get tested and stay in quarantine until a negative test is returned.
Low risk site
Darwin International Airport Arrivals and Check-In (ground floor) and the Departure Lounge (Level 1) . The positive case in Queensland arrived on a charter flight to the airport on Friday, June 25 and was in the airport ground floor between 1.30pm and 1.50pm. Anyone who attended the venue during the time must monitor their health. If they develop Covid-19 symptoms, they are urged to isolate and contact authorities.
Deputy chief health officer Charles Pain confirmed it was the Delta variant of the virus.
The Sitzler Netball Stadium in Marrara has been reopened as a drive-through testing facility, to enable high volumes of people to get tested in the safety of their cars.
Mr Gunner said the greatest priority for authorities was identified all those who attended the Buff Club.
“The bit that we are moving to get under control right now is the exposure site, the high risk exposure site, the Buff Club,” he said.
“People who were there, we’re contacting them, making sure they are staying at home for the next 14 day, and getting tested.
“That’s the bit that we’re moving to manage now, and that’s the bit that’s led to the extended lockdown.
“I am confident that as a result of a swift, sharp lockdown, all the testing and tracing efforts, that we can get this done within this period of time. That’s the mission we’ve got.”
The Tanami Desert outbreak began at the Newmont Corporation Granites Gold Mine, after a worker tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, which he contracted while in quarantine for nine hours at the Brisbane Airport Novotel coronavirus facility.
On Sunday a further five cases were diagnosed: a man in his 30s who travelled to New South Wales, a worker who travelled to Queensland, two miners who were in isolation at the mine, and a 64-year-old Palmerston man who travelled to Darwin.
Authorities scrambled on Sunday to identify 15 “unnaccounted” contacts related to the Tanami mine case, to prevent the potential spread of the virus. All 15 were identified and placed into quarantine.
Originally published as New public exposure sites added, hours after Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced lockdown would continue for a further 72 hours
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