Minister to announce electronic armbands to track the vitals of overseas arrivals

NEW electronic armbands will be used to track the vitals of repatriated Aussies arriving to quarantine in the NT from overseas

• Howard Springs facility to quarantine returning Aussies from UK, India after repatriation flights
• 5000 expat Aussies stranded overseas bound for Howard Springs quarantine facility

NEW electronic armbands that track vitals will be optional for repatriated Aussies arriving to quarantine in the Howard Springs facility from overseas, with a battalion of telehealth workers monitoring their blood oxygen and temperature to pick up the earliest signs of COVID-19.

Abigail Trewin, Director of Disaster Preparedness and Response demonstrates the electronic vital signs monitors offered to the new arrivals. Picture: Che Chorley

Health Minister Natasha Fyles announced on Thursday that cutting-edge technology — similar to what has been used in Singapore and Hong Kong — will be used to track the vitals of overseas arrivals if they wish.

The NT News understands the armbands will not be tracking users whereabouts.

There will be 175 people aboard QF 110 that will touch down at Darwin Airport’s RAAF base at 11.55am on Friday.

It comes as Australia Medical Assistance Teams preparing for their arrival admit there’s a “realistic” chance of COVID-19 cases among the cohort.

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The Howard Springs facility will quarantine about 500 repatriated Australians per fortnight arriving on flights from London, South Africa and India.

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