NT acted “prematurely” opening up to Sydney in light of mystery cases, health group says

THE Health Minister has brushed off claims the NT acted prematurely in revoking Sydney’s COVID-19 hot spot status following a series of mystery cases now emerging

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THE NT Health Minister has brushed off claims the government acted prematurely in revoking Sydney’s COVID-19 hot spot last week in light of a series of mystery cases now emerging across the NSW city.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said last Thursday’s decision to revoke Sydney as a hot spot was based strictly on medical advice and they stood by it.

However, Dr John Boffa from the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation, has criticised the decision as premature.

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It comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian sounded a warning yesterday about three new mystery COVID-19 cases, including one in Sydney’s inner west, adding on to 10 cases recorded in Sydney with an unknown source.

In light of the “concerning” development, Ms Berejiklian urged Sydneysiders to come forward for testing.

She said the Greater Sydney region was now at the same risk level as the southern zone of the Northern Beaches, which has been locked down with stay at home orders since December 19.

Dr Boffa said he felt the NT had definitely jumped the gun on revoking Sydney’s hot spot status last week, while other jurisdictions like QLD and Victoria kept their borders shut to the city.

“In the light of all of the uncertainty created by mystery cases in Sydney it doesn’t make sense why the NT went it alone and opened up on December 24,” he said.

“We cannot afford this level of complacency towards a city with mystery cases and major public events that won’t even mandate masks.”

Ms Fyles said Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie again met with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee yesterday afternoon to discuss the evolving situation in NSW.

“If any changes to the Northern Territories hot spot policy need to be made of course they will be,” she said.

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“But it’s not just looking at the cases it’s looking at the information behind those cases.

“We know that Sydney’s been aware of this outbreak for two weeks now, so it may be that these individuals were in isolation.

“We need to look at what level of threat there is to the community and potentially the Territory before we make any decisions.”