Alice Springs to go into lockdown after man with symptoms visits airport, tests positive interstate

Alice Springs has plunged into a lockdown for 72 hours after a mine worker, who travelled from the region to Adelaide, developed symptoms of the virus and has since tested positive.

• Exposure sites spread to Palmerston as Top End cases rise

UPDATED 4.30PM: The Alice Springs Airport cafe has been deemed a high-risk site, with anyone who visited the venue between 9.20am and 3.50pm Friday June 25 urged to isolate for 14 days.

The departure and arrival lounge area has been deemed a casual contact and is required to self-isolate until they receive a negative Covid-19 test.

Contact tracers were forced to go over hours of CCTV footage to identify areas of the Alice Springs Airport of high risk.

The airport’s check in, baggage and carparking areas have been deemed safe.

It comes as Alice Springs plunged into lockdown on Wednesday for three days.

A worker from the Tanami gold mine travelled through the airport to South Australia before testing positive for the virus in Adelaide.

EARLIER:

CASE UPDATE: A worker who flew directly to Brisbane from the Tanami Desert mine site on Friday, June 25 has also tested positive for Covid-19.

ALICE Springs will plunge into a Covid-19 lockdown for 72 hours as a “full precautionary measure” after a mine worker, who travelled from the region to South Australia, tested positive for the virus in Adelaide.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the man was at the Alice Springs Airport on Friday, June 25 between 9am and 3.50pm. He did not exit the airport.

The man travelled to Adelaide and returned a negative Covid-19 test, however developed symptoms.

South Australia health authorities said he had another test, which was confirmed positive, along with his wife and three of four of his children.

Mr Gunner said it was unlikely he was infectious at Alice Springs Airport, but it was a precaution to lock down the region.

The cafe section of Alice Springs Airport is considered a close contact site, with anyone who was in the area between on Friday, June 25 between 9am and 3.50pm is required to self-isolate and get tested for Covid-19, and remain in quarantine for 14 days.

A further breakdown of the public exposure areas within Alice Springs Airport will soon be released.

Alice Springs residents must now wear a face mask when leaving their residence, and must only leave for one of five reasons:

– To receive medical treatment, including Covid testing or vaccination;

– To get essential goods and services, like groceries and medications;

– For work that is considered essential;

– For one hour of outdoor exercise a day within 5 km from your home with one other person or people from your house;

– To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.

No new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the Northern Territory in the last 24 hours.

Mr Gunner said the list of close contacts for Stuart Park’s Buff Club exposure site had been updated to 179 people, with eight left to be contacted.

All tests completed for the Buff Club have returned negative thus far.

Seven close contacts of an infected mine worker in his 50s, who visited the Buff Club and a number of other sites across Darwin, have all tested negative for Covid-19.

On Tuesday Mr Gunner announced several new public exposure sites across Palmerston, after the wife and daughter of a 64-year-old mine worker with Covid-19, also tested positive for the virus.

PALMERSTON EXPOSURE SITES

CLOSE CONTACT SITES (HIGH RISK)

A Zumba class at a pop-up tent at the Palmerston Recreation Centre between 9am and 9.30am on Saturday, June 26.

About 25 people, including the instructor, were identified and are required to self-isolate immediately and get tested for Covid-19. People must stay in isolation for a full 14 days.

CASUAL CONTACT SITES (MEDIUM RISK)

The Palmerston flea market on Saturday, June 26 between 7.45am and 8.45am, and 9.30am and 9.45am.

A public toilet in the area has also been identified, but times are yet to be released.

Female public toilet at 1 Chung Wah Terrace between 9.40am to 9am on Saturday, June 26.

Anyone who visited the venue at these times is required to self-isolate and get tested, and stay in isolation until they return a negative test.

A number of stores within Gateway Shopping Centre have been identified as casual contact sites. Anyone who attended the following between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, June 26 is required to self-isolate and get tested until a negative result is returned:

Rockmans’s clothing store

Big W (pet section)

Hoskings Jewellers

Woolworths

Pharmacy 4 Less Gateway

Gateway Shopping Centre Underground Carpark

LOW RISK SITES

Gateway Shopping Centre between 11am and 2pm on Saturday, June 26. Anyone who attended at this time is urged to monitor their health and isolate if they develop symptoms.

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