Concerns as NT remote communities designated ‘high risk’ for coronavirus

CONCERNS are being raised over how prepared the Northern Territory is to help remote indigenous communities prepare for a COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

A remote community outside of Ti Tree, north of Alice Springs. Picture: Gary Ramage/News Corp Australia

CONCERNS are being raised over how prepared the Northern Territory is to help remote indigenous communities prepare for a COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Health officials warn that further domestic outbreaks of the deadly coronavirus are inevitable and remote indigenous community residents have been designated at high risk.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the government was paying particular attention to vulnerable Territorians in remote communities due to the high levels of chronic illness.

Stuart MLA Scott McConnell said he had been inundated with calls from constituents worried about the potentially deadly virus striking their families.

“There doesn’t seem to be any people from government telling these remote residents what to expect and it’s making people anxious,” he said.

“Surely the government know what level of preparedness they’re taking in communities with community controlled health services – it needs to be communicated better.

“We don’t want a repeat of what happened with the spread of the swine flu.”

Ms Fyles said a dedicated Pandemic Co-ordinator Cell (PCC) had been implemented with her department to co-ordinate an NT-wide response to COVID-19.

The PCC will also be responsible for working directly with AMSANT and their members to best prepare some of the Territory’s more vulnerable populations and their health care clinics in the event of a coronavirus pandemic and if it reached a remote community.