Covid NT: 178 Covid patients in NT hospitals, 1092 new cases detected

Secure NT confirmed there were 1092 new cases of Covid-19 recorded in the Northern Territory for Tuesday, the second highest jump in cases since the start of the outbreak.

UPDATE, TUES JAN 8: CENTRAL Australia has recorded 230 new cases in the past 24 hours as the Territory experiences the second highest daily case tally since the outbreak began.

Secure NT confirmed there were 1092 new cases of Covid-19 recorded in the Northern Territory for Tuesday.

This is the second largest highest jump in active cases, only rivalled on February 2 when 1217 positives tests were recorded.

Secure NT said hospital cases continue to rise, with 178 Covid patients currently in hospital, with 33 patients requiring oxygen.

There are five patients in intensive care units.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said 90 per cent of Covid hospital patients were Aboriginal.

The NT Government has repeatedly stated that this week marked the expected peak in the Omicron wave.

There have been little signs of cases plateauing in the seven-day average, with cases consistently over the 800 mark.

On Tuesday there were 589 cases recorded in the Top End Region, 230 in Central Australia, 79 in the East Arnhem region, 73 in the Big Rivers region, 27 in the Barkly region and 94 are under investigation.

The number of active cases in the Territory is about 7407.

Of the 1092 cases, 897 were positive cases from a Rapid Antigen Tests.

Secure NT backdated yesterday’s cases by an additional 28 cases, to 859.

A Covid briefing is expected at 2pm on Tuesday.

NT records 831 new Covid cases, Lajamanu to exit lock-in

UPDATE, MON JAN 7: The Territory has recorded 831 new cases of Covid-19, with remote community Lajamanu to exit its lock-in from 5pm.

There were 532 cases recorded in the Top End region, 120 in Central Australia, 19 in the East Arnhem region, 20 in the Big Rivers region, 25 in the Barkly and 115 are under investigation. In total there are 7370 active cases in the NT.

There are 156 in NT hospitals, with 29 people on oxygen and three in the ICU.

Lajamanu will exit its lock-in from 5pm on Monday, with no restriction of movements for all residents.

NT records another Covid death

A MAN from the remote community of Kintore has become the fifth person to die with Covid-19 in the Northern Territory.

The man, in his 60s, had underlying health conditions.

It’s not known whether the Central Australian man was vaccinated, or what doses he had received if he was.

The man passed away on Friday and his death was confirmed by NT Health on Sunday morning.

There have now been five Covid-19 related deaths recorded in the NT since the start of the pandemic.

It comes as 867 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the NT in the 24-hours to 8pm February 5. Of these, 655 were positive cases from a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

There are currently 158 patients in hospital, with 28 patients requiring oxygen. There are three patients in ICU.

The number of active cases in the NT is about 7372.

There were 552 cases recorded in the Top End Region, 147 in Central Australia, 43 in the East Arnhem region, 23 in the Big Rivers region, 24 in the Barkly region and 78 are under investigation. The government did not provide a breakdown of how many cases were detected in remote Aboriginal communities.

The government also continues to backdate case numbers, increasing Saturday’s numbers from 968 to 1057.

The remote communities of Ampilatwatja, Milikapiti, Galiwin’ku, Milingimbi Island and Palumpa also came out of their respective lock-ins at 2pm on Sunday.

There are no longer restrictions for these areas regarding movement for people who are vaccinated or unvaccinated.

It comes after the Territory scrapped its outdoor mask mandate on Saturday, while the indoor mask mandate remains in place. 

Outdoor mask mandate scrapped

THE Northern Territory will scrap its outdoor mask mandate as planned after one week, despite over 1000 Covid-19 cases added to the tally on Saturday.

Masks in outdoor spaces will no longer need to be worn from 6pm Saturday, but the indoor mark mandate in force across the Territory will remain in place.

There were 968 cases of Covid-19 reported on Saturday, according to a statement from Secure NT.

There were also another 173 cases added to Friday’s total.

Hospitalisations from the virus rose by three patients to 151 on Saturday. There were 22 people requiring oxygen on Saturday, six more than on Friday.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles announced an outdoor mask mandate last week. Picture (A)manda Parkinson

Four people were in intensive care, down from six on Friday.

Lock-ins will continue until at least 2pm Sunday for Ampilatwatja, Milikapiti, Galiwin’ku, Milingimbi Island and Palumpa until 2pm.

546 of Saturday’s cases were detected in the Top End, 151 in Central Australia, 57 in East Arnhem, 62 in the Big Rivers, and 30 in the Barkly, with 122 cases remaining under investigation.

The government did not provide a breakdown of how many cases were detected in remote Aboriginal communities.

Elective and day surgeries paused at Territory hospitals

ELECTIVE and day surgeries have been paused at Territory hospitals as the pressure on frontline health staff increases.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the decision as the number of Covid-19 hospitalisations rose to 148, with 16 people requiring oxygen and six patients in ICU.

Case numbers stayed around the current average with 1004 new cases announced on Friday, bringing the total active cases in the NT to 7094.

“We are pausing the elective and day surgery in our hospitals to help our clinicians manage the current Covid cases and prepare for potential increase,” Mr Gunner said.

“This recognises the pressure on our frontline health staff especially in our hospitals.”

Health authorities are still working to determine whether the death of a person from Tennant Creek was Covid-related.

Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie said it looked like the Territory was approaching its peak number of cases.

“We’ve been preparing for this for two years and it would look like we are approaching or are at our peak number of cases,” Dr Heggie said.

“We need to approach this in a sensible way and that means testing needs to be based on risk and symptoms and that the people who can stay at home who are positive do stay at home.”