Katherine enters 72-hour lockdown after NT’s first case of community transmission

Katherine has entered an emergency 72-hour lockdown after the Northern Territory recorded its first case of community transmission.

The Katherine region in the Northern Territory has entered an emergency 72-hour lockdown over one case of coronavirus.

It’s the NT’s first case of community transmission of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic.

The man is an unvaccinated contract worker in his 20s on RAAF Base Tindal in Katherine, NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters at an emergency press conference on Thursday night.

He developed symptoms on Tuesday and tested positive on Thursday evening. He had not recently travelled outside of the NT.

“That means he caught the virus inside the Territory,” Mr Gunner said.

“We do not know where, when or how this man became infected.”

Mr Gunner said Katherine, about 320km southeast of Darwin, and its surrounding municipality including Tindal, would go into three-day lockdown starting at 12.01am on Friday.

David Dwyer takes PPE to the Nth degree as Katherine goes into lockdown. Picture: Glenn Campbell

At the same time, Greater Darwin will enter its first “lockout” – a lockdown that applies only to unvaccinated people.

Under the 72-hour lockout, vaccinated people can continue to be active in the community but must wear a mask outside.

Unvaccinated people must comply with lockdown restrictions, and can only leave their home for the “permitted” five reasons.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people must stay within the Greater Darwin region for three days.

Unvaccinated people cannot leave Greater Darwin or go to their workplace, even if they are essential workers.

Customers must check-in to businesses using QR codes and also will be required to show their vaccination certificate.

Children, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, are still allowed to attend school, childcare and sport, but unvaccinated parents cannot enter school grounds.

People ride across the Katherine River on Thursday night. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Gunner said he wouldn’t rule out a full lockdown of Darwin “if circumstances change”.

Residents in the lockdown area are only permitted to leave their home for one of the following five reasons:

• Medical treatment, including getting a Covid-19 test or getting vaccinated

• For essential goods and services, like groceries and medicines

• For work that is considered essential and can’t be done at home

• For one hour of exercise a day, with one other person or the people that you live with, and no further than five kilometres from your home

• To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves. This includes separated families sharing the care of children

All businesses, retail outlets, hospitality venues, gyms, pools and community centres will be closed.

Cafes and restaurants are limited to take-away and delivery only.

Schools and childcare centres will be closed except for the children of essential workers.

Anyone caught breaching directions – including not wearing a mask – faces a $5000 fine.

A further update is expected this morning.

Sunset as Katherine goes into lockdown over a Covid-19 case. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The man, who lives in Humpty Doo, could have been exposed to the virus as early as October 19, but was likely only infectious in the community from Sunday, October 31 to Tuesday, November 2.

Five exposure sites have been identified so far:

• Monsoons Nightclub in Darwin on Friday, October 29

• An Equinox fishing charter that left Darwin on Sunday, October 31 from 6am to 2pm

• Noonamah petrol station on Saturday, October 30 at 6.30am

• RAAF Base Tindal on Monday, November 1 and Tuesday, November 2 between 6.30am and 5pm

• The Katherine Club on Monday, November 1 between 5pm and 6pm

Anyone who was at an exposure site in the relevant time must isolate immediately, book a Covid-19 test and remain in isolation until further notice, Mr Gunner said.

He urged people to get vaccinated.

“It’s here, anyone can get it, you can get it,” he said.

“But you are more likely to catch Covid if you are unvaccinated, and you are way, way more likely to get seriously ill from Covid if you are unvaccinated.”