Chief Minister says two new Covid cases identified overnight

Two new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the Top End overnight, relating to a Palmerston man who tested positive for the virus. A number of public exposure sites in Palmerston have also been identified. LIST HERE.

TWO new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in the Top End overnight, the wife and daughter of a 64-year-old Palmerston mine worker.

The pair were taken to Howard Springs on Sunday, and later tested positive for Covid-19.

The man travelled to Darwin on June 25 from the Newmont Corporation Granites Gold Mine in the Tanami Desert. He was picked up by his wife from Darwin Airport and taken home. He had then picked up his daughter from work.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the wife and daughter visited several locations across Palmerston, but said health authorities advised the pair were likely not infectious at the time.

Mr Gunner said contact tracing was now underway for the following sites:

Close contact sites (high risk)

A Zumba class at a pop-up tent at the Palmerston Recreation Centre between 9am and 9.30am.

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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‘Critical period’: Contact tracers scramble to trace Darwin outbreak

On Monday Mr Gunner announced authorities were scrambling to trace about 180 close contacts of a positive Covid-19 case who visited the Buff Club along Stuart Hwy.

The infected man, aged in his 50s, was the seventh case nationwide associated with the growing Tanami gold mine outbreak.

The man was in the Darwin community for 36 hours, and was closely exposed to six friends and a taxi driver. They were all moved to Howard Springs, and thus far six Covid-19 results have returned negative.

He visited the Buff Club on Friday between 3.30pm and 8pm, and the venue is being treated as high-risk.

Mr Gunner said 171 people were identified as close contacts who visited the Buff Club during the period, with 29 people left to be contacted. All of these close contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days.

CLOSE CONTACT SITE (HIGH RISK)

The Buff Club on Friday, June 25 between 3.30pm and 8pm. Anyone who attended the venue is urged to self-isolate immediately and contact authorities.

Persons who attended are required to isolate for 14 days, alongside anyone else in their household, or be taken to Howard Springs if their home is not suitable.

CASUAL CONTACT SITES (MEDIUM RISK)

The BWS drive-through in Parap on Saturday, June 26 from 11.50am to 12.10pm. Anyone who attended the venue is urged to self-isolate immediately and contact authorities. Anyone who attended the venue during this time must self-quarantine, get tested and stay in quarantine until a negative test is returned.

Bunnings on Bagot Rd on Saturday, June 26 between 10.30am and 10.40am. Anyone who attended the venue during this time must self-quarantine, get tested and stay in quarantine until a negative test is returned.

LOW RISK SITE

Darwin International Airport Arrivals and Check-In (ground floor) and the Departure Lounge (Level 1). The positive case in Queensland arrived on a charter flight to the airport on Friday, June 25 and was in the airport ground floor between 1.30pm and 1.50pm. Anyone who attended the venue during the time must monitor their health. If they develop Covid-19 symptoms, they are urged to isolate and contact authorities.

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