Mystery infection sparks lockdown in Katherine, lockout in Darwin and alerts at five locations

Authorities have warned Covid-19 is now in the Territory after a mystery infection in the Top End, with five exposure sites including a military base and a nightclub. READ THE LATEST.

AN UNVACCINATED man who visited Mitchell St and worked at Tindal RAAF base has tested positive for Covid-19, throwing two Top End cities back under Covid restrictions.

Health authorities were forced to implement a lockdown in Katherine and a lockout in Darwin after the man, aged in his 20s, tested positive for the virus despite having not recently returned from interstate or overseas.

It’s left deputy chief health officer Dr Charles Pain to conclude that the Territory has now experienced its first community infection of Covid-19 since the pandemic began.

“It’s our nightmare and it’s here now,” Dr Pain said.

“We expected it, and we knew it would come.”

Katherine has been plunged into a 72-hour lockdown, with residents unable to leave their home except for five essential reasons.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Monsoons was a possible infection site for the man, who was now being transferred to Howard Springs. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

Darwin has been placed into a lockout, with only the fully vaccinated allowed to continue living life in relative normality. Masks are compulsory in the capital and Chief Minister Michael Gunner has warned Darwin could still be locked down fully if infections escalated.

“If you are in the Greater Darwin region and you are not fully vaccinated, then you are under a lockdown order,” Mr Gunner said.

Fully vaccinated individuals will have to carry a copy of their Covid-19 vaccination certificate either on their smartphone or in hard copy.

The positive infection, aged in his 20s, was a contract worker at the RAAF Base outside Katherine.

He developed symptoms on Tuesday and was swabbed on Wednesday before receiving a strong positive result on Thursday.

“The man has not travelled outside of the Territory recently,” Mr Gunner said.

“That means he caught the virus inside the Territory.”

Deputy chief health officer Dr Charles Pain said the news was “our nightmare”. Picture: Amanda Parkinson

The man is being transferred to the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

He spent limited time in the community in Darwin, the Darwin rural area and Katherine.

Mr Gunner said the man’s time in the community potentially stretched back to October 19.

He visited Monsoons on Mitchell St last Friday, on October 29. Mr Gunner said it was possible the man contracted the virus at the popular Darwin nightclub.

He also went aboard a Equinox fishing charter on October 31, between 6am and 2pm.

Noonamah Service Station on November 1 at 6.30am was also an exposure site.

He was working at the Tindal RAAF Base on Monday November 1 and Tuesday November 2 between 6.30am and 5pm.

The final exposure site was the Katherine Club on Monday November 1 between 5pm and 6pm.

Anyone who visited those sites is being urged to book a Covid-19 test and isolate until they receive further advice or a negative result.

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