NT Covid-19: Territory records 17 new infections as Katherine cluster grows

Health authorities are concerned by an escalating Covid-19 outbreak in a vulnerable community and have issued a stern warning.

Health authorities have warned the outbreak in the Northern Territory will continue to rise after the territory recorded 17 new Covid-19 cases.

The Katherine cluster has now lifted to 87 infections after a testing “blitz” in the smaller town south of Darwin, where 8 of the 14 new cases discovered were children under 12-years-old.

The new cases will now be transferred to a quarantine facility as Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison urged communities to come forward for testing.

She blasted the residents of Tennant Creek, a small town in the territory’s centre, which recorded positive wastewater traces of the virus but only five people came forward for tests.

“That is not good enough,” Ms Manison told reporters on Monday.

The Katherine cluster is expected to keep rising. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

“When we have positive wastewater we really do need a higher rate of testing.

“We can only work off the information that we have. Yes, we will get more wastewater back but we really do need to see more people coming forward in Tennant Creek to get tested.

“So I really urge everyone in Tennant Creek, if you have the slightest of symptoms, it is enough reason to go forward and get a Covid test.”

There are 190 close contacts in the territory but the Acting Chief Minister said this will “sharply rise” and warned of new cases expected to emerge in Katherine.

“We are finding the cases we thought were there,” she said.

“We can expect more cases from these households to emerge in the next few days.”