13 new COVID cases from repatriation flights from India in Howard Springs
Thirteen more arrivals from India have tested positive to COVID-19 in the Howard Springs facility in the last 24 hours, bringing the NT’s active case tally to 38.
Northern Territory
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CORONAVIRUS cases isolating in Howard Springs are mounting, with another 13 cases of the deadly virus confirmed on Friday.
There are now 38 active cases of COVID-19 in the Territory, almost all of whom are from India. One case has been hospitalised in the Royal Darwin Hospital.
The surge in new cases came after the federal and Territory governments agreed to reduce the number of repatriated Australians allowed on flights from India by 30 per cent.
India reported 330,000 cases of COVID-19 yesterday, setting a grim world record for the most daily cases of the virus reported by a single country since the pandemic began.
Health minister Natasha Fyles said NT clinicians were concerned about the rapid rise in cases.
“Just a few weeks ago it appeared to be under control,” Ms Fyles said.
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She said cases in Howard Springs were being given the “highest standard” of health treatment, and rejected any suggestion flights from India should be completely scrapped.
“We need to balance it with our obligation that these are people that are eligible to come to Australia.”
Repatriation flights from India, originally scheduled for May, will now be deferred until June so the NT can manage a higher level of cases.
Ms Fyles also said the NT wasn’t yet conducting wastewater testing for COVID-19 fragments, claiming she didn’t want data to “alarm the community”.
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