Chief Minister Michael Gunner says no new Covid cases recorded overnight

No new cases of Covid-19 were recorded overnight in the NT, with almost 2000 tests conducted and returned as negative.

UPDATE: THE Territory has not recorded any new cases of Covid-19 overnight, with almost 2000 tests thus far completed and all negative.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner confirmed 1846 tests had been completed overnight, all returning negative results.

The 30-year-old man who tested positive for Covid-19 was retested, with his second test indicating he was more infectious than the first. Mr Gunner said this implied he was more infectious while in Katherine.

The taxi driver who was in contact with the 30-year-old has been transferred to Howard Springs. He did not take any further fares that night until 9am the next day. He returned a negative test.

The Uber driver continued operate, with 10 people identified as close contacts. Authorities are attempting to reach them.

Thirty-two people have been identified as close contacts aboard the flight from Sydney to Darwin via Canberra, with 25 people still in the NT. The remaining six have since travelled interstate.

Eleven people were identified as close contacts of the Hilton Hotel, 12 people at the Outback Steak and Curry restaurant, seven at Salvatores and eight at the Darwin Mini Mart over the original case’s two visits.

Thirteen people were identified as close contacts at the Knotts Crossing Resort with 11 in isolation and two interstate.

One person was classified a close contact at the Woolworths in Katherine, with 200 to 250 people identified as casual contacts.

Everyone identified as a close contact will go into isolation for 14 days.

“We’re working as quickly as possible to get those people isolated and tested,” Mr Gunner said.

“I urge everyone to keep checking the Coronavirus website and see if it applies to you.

We believe we’ve done everything we can to trap the virus, we just need to wait until the outstanding tests come back.

“The wastewater from Darwin is being tested today and we will get those results back late tomorrow. The Katherine wastewater is also being collected today. Normally we wouldn’t get those results back until Thursday night, though we are pursuing every possibility to get those results back sooner and I’m confident we can do that.

“We will keep tracing the handful people we haven’t tracked down yet.

EARLIER: CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner will front a press conference at 11.30am Tuesday to update the public on the government’s Covid-19 response.

It follows news on Monday that a Covid-positive man travelled to Darwin and then Katherine, before testing positive for the virus.

Genomic sequencing results have not yet been returned, with samples of the virus being sent interstate, however Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the case was being treated as if he had the hyper-infectious Delta strain.

The snap three-day lockdown began Monday at noon, covering the Greater Darwin and Katherine areas.

Follow @thomasmorgan22