Dr John Boffa says there have been two more Covid-19 deaths in NT not recorded by govt

There have been two additional Covid-19 deaths in the Northern Territory that have not been reported by the government, says a top Central Australian doctor.

THERE have been two additional Covid-19 deaths in the Northern Territory that have not been reported by the government, says the top doctor at the Central Australian Aboriginal Health Congress.

Dr John Boffa said the two deaths were Aboriginal people from Central Australia and the Barkly region.

With the reclassification of the deaths, it brings the Northern Territory’s total number of Covid-19 fatalities to four.

Dr Boffa said the new deaths were not from Covid-19 but rather people who died with the disease.

However, he said they must be recorded as a Covid-19 deaths in order to be consistent with other Australian jurisdictions.

“That’s the national definition. All states and territories have agreed to it. And we need to be able to compare apples with apples,” Dr Boffa told ABC Radio.

“We’ve not applied that definition.”

Dr Boffa said it was important the NT government reclassifies the deaths in order keep its data in line with the rest of the country’s.

“We don’t want to be seen to be catastrophising or over overstating the case,” he said.

“But it’s really important that the Northern Territory doesn’t go it alone and come up with a much lesser definition.”

Dr Boffa said the cause of death for both cases who had Covid-19 had been recorded as a heart attack.

The two casualties were in the acute phase – the first 14 days – of contracting Covid-19, according to Dr Boffa.

“That’s still a Covid-related death,” he said.

“What happens when you get Covid in the acute phase of the illness? You get a massive immunological response and a massive inflammatory response.

“It’s well known that a massive inflammatory response causes heart attacks. This is why pre-existing underlying conditions are important.”

The Health Department has been contacted for comment.