Chief Minister Michael Gunner says NT should expect more COVID-19 cases
IT is inevitable the NT will record more cases of coronavirus Chief Minister Michael Gunner says, after the Territory’s 87-day COVID-19 streak was broken today by a positive test
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IT IS inevitable that the NT will record more cases of coronavirus Chief Minister Michael Gunner has said, after the Territory’s 87 day streak was broken by a returning traveller who tested positive.
Mr Gunner, currently on a week-long work trip in Central Australia, said Territorians should “expect this to happen again”.
“I know it’s hard to hear, but it’s the truth,” he said.
“I really want all Territorians to know this. It will happen again.”
Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie said there was near to no risk to the community and contact tracing for people on that flight is underway.
Mr Gunner said the NT’s system had worked and the man had followed proper protocol.
“Our health care staff are excellent. Our plan worked,” he said.
“But also, we should expect this to happen again.
“Coronavirus isn’t going anywhere for a while. We can’t get rid of it completely – not yet. We don’t have a vaccine and Australia is not corona free.
The Darwin man in his 30s flew in from overseas to Melbourne, where he spent 14 days in mandatory hotel quarantine before being cleared to leave.
He then spent a few days with family in Melbourne who happened to live in a declared coronavirus hotspot.
The traveller then returned to Darwin via Brisbane on Qantas flight QF836, arriving on Monday, before going into another 14 days of quarantine in his own home where he lived by himself.
Feeling unwell, the man was tested for COVID-19 and the results returned on Wednesday night revealed he was positive.
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“We don’t know when either of those things will happen. It might not be for a very long time.”
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