Latest NT coronavirus couple flew in from Sydney after trip to New York
A DARWIN couple in their 70s has become the seventh and eighth Territorians to test for coronavirus after returning from a trip to New York. In other virus developments, the NT’s prisons have been locked down
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A DARWIN couple in their 70s became the seventh and eighth Territorians to test positive to coronavirus after returning from a trip to New York.
The 72-year-old and 73-year-old recently returned to Darwin from their overseas trip via Sydney and arrived after lunchtime on Monday.
In other coronavirus-related developments in the Territory today, the NT’s prisons have now been locked down to protect inmates.
Territory Health is working to contact the passengers on board the Sydney-Darwin flight the returning couple was on, which touched down on Monday afternoon.
They are now both being cared for in isolation at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles thanked those returning from interstate or overseas for quarantining themselves.
“All of those people, and I thank them, have done the right thing and have isolated from our community to stop community transmission,” Ms Fyles said.
“We have not seen any cases of community transmission in the Northern Territory.
“We need people who travel from interstate to do the right thing and isolate.”
Eight Territorians have now tested positive for COVID-19, including a man diagnosed in NSW on Wednesday who is being treated in the NSW health system.
There are also eight people, coincidentally, being treated for coronavirus in the NT in isolation at Royal Darwin Hospital — the seven remaining Territorians and a 52-year-old NSW man who tested positive in Darwin on March 4 after flying in from Sydney. He is counted as a NSW case.
Ms Fyles said the Correction Commissioner had also stopped personal visits for prisoners in a bid to keep inmates safe.
She said more phone calls would be offered to prisoners to allow them to keep in contact with loved ones.
The work parties that go into the community and complete tasks, such as mowing and general upkeep, have also been cancelled.
“While they don’t interact with the community the Corrections Commissioner has advised me that it is a reasonable precaution to stop these groups from going out,” Ms Fyles said.
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“This is a precautionary approach to make sure we protect the broader population as well as the prison population which is vulnerable.”
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