Territory’s ‘Living with Covid’ strategy needs to include Aboriginal health

A suspected Covid patient walked for three hours from Bagot to East Arm in a desperate attempt to access testing services – only to be turned away by the centre.

UPDATE 3PM: A SUSPECTED Covid patient walked for three hours from Bagot to East Arm in a desperate attempt to access testing services – only to be turned away by the centre.

Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT chief executive officer John Paterson said the Bagot resident’s testing plight represented systemic failures in the Territory’s approach to ‘living with Covid’ for Indigenous communities.

Mr Paterson said it was “unacceptable” that accessible PCR tests were not available for those without a car, while effective support was not going to residents still waiting for their results.

“(Living with Covid) just doesn’t sit right with me and it needs to be a totally different strategy for our discrete Aboriginal communities and those that live rural and remote,” he said.

“When you let it rip … its going to cripple our health system.”

Following outbreaks in Bagot and Kakadu, Mr Paterson said the government needed to listen when Traditional Owners called for localised health restrictions.

“There needs to be decisions made at the community level, otherwise we could risk losing Elders,” he said.

Mr Paterson called for a return of the snap health measures that had successfully protected the Territory in previous outbreaks.

“We believe that we go quick, go hard, and go fast was a very effective strategy,” he said.

Local Indigenous Leader John Paterson getting his booster shot from Aboriginal Health Practitioner Brenda Martin-Jard at the Danila Dilba facility in Palmerston. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Paterson said that included moving Covid patients and their immediate close contacts into quarantine facilities if they could not self-isolate safely.

He said it was an “unacceptable ask” to push for Covid at Home arrangements in Aboriginal communities, given the known issues of overcrowding, food security and a lack of transportation.

“(When) they are almost living in poverty … you just can’t expect them to apply or adhere to those public health conditions,” he said.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said anyone without testing transport, or groceries and everyday items while in isolation could contact the Covid hotline for support.

“We have booked a public transport. But again, we don’t necessarily want people who are symptomatic potentially with Covid catching public transport,” she said.

“In terms of testing, it’s been a challenge right the way through, but we can work with community members who need our support in getting the access to a test.”

Mr Paterson said 163 people were given PCR tests in the Bagot community following a massive campaign by the Danila Dilba Health Service on Tuesday.

“That demonstrates how concerned, alarmed and anxious they are,” he said.

And Mr Paterson said it would likely be at least a 72 hour wait for results with most of the community losing access to essentials like groceries.

Right after receiving his booster shot the health leader said the path out of the pandemic was vaccinations, particularly given the rise of new variants.

“(Omicron) is really contagious and spreads like wildfire,” he said.

It comes as the Northern Land Council extends its suspension of permits for non-essential workers.

“We issue this updated advice in support and on behalf of Traditional Owners from across the Top End who have consistently called for strong controls on access to their communities.” Chairman Samuel Bush-Blanasi said.

UPDATE NOON: A BABY and a new mother are among the latest Covid patients as the Territory records 117 new infections in just 24 hours.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles confirmed the record breaking spike, saying the Territory now had to accept Covid was in the community.

There were 29 cases of community transmission, and nine mystery cases where the source had not yet been identified.

Of the 117 cases, 46 were interstate, two international arrivals and 31 were known close contacts.

Ms Fyles said the majority of cases were from Darwin and the Top End.

Two Darwin travellers who went into Borroloola have tested positive, but it was understood they were not in the community while infectious.

There were six new cases in Yulara, some connected to interstate arrivals while others are mystery cases.

There were no new cases in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs or Nhulunbuy.

Health authorities are trying to confirm if five cases in Katherine were new Omicron infections or connected to the regional Delta cluster.

A Katherine region mother and her young baby have been transferred to Royal Darwin Hospital after both testing positive.

Ms Fyles said the infant was very unwell.

Chief health officer Hugh Heggie said infants were more susceptible to diseases, with diarrhoea a risk factor from Omicron.

There are 21 people in hospital, with five in an acute care, and one in intensive care.

Dr Heggie said one unvaccinated patient was in intensive care and was on a ventilator following a suspected Delta infection.

Seven patients are in Alice Springs Hospital, eight in Tennant Creek, two in Alice Springs and 10 in Royal Darwin Hospital.

It comes as eight Royal Darwin Hospital staff also test positive, but Ms Fyles said their infections were picked up outside of the health centre.

Despite the Nurses Union criticising the Territory’s approach, Ms Fyles said 20 months of planning had gone into keeping the health system running under Covid.

“Territorian should be reassured there’s a number of strong plans in place to keep the community safe,” she said.

“It is going to be a challenge and I acknowledge the hard work of those on the frontline particularly on nursing clinical staff.”

Ms Fyles said there would be no change to public health measures, despite another record breaking day.

“So it is concerning for Territorians that rise community transmission. (But) there is no change to our public health measures,” she said.

“As we’ve consistently said, our goal is not to stop this virus.

“It is to ensure that we don’t overburden their health system.”

She said the rate meant the Territory was “past the point of a lockdown”, but said a lockout was still possible if harsher restrictions were needed.

Dr Heggie said as community transmission increased, it would be more difficult to track the individual outbreaks.

“It may be that we never find the sources of particular outbreaks of clusters,” Dr Heggie said.

Fears of New Year’s parties turning into superspreader events have not yet come through to testing clinics, but the figures may still increase over the next few days.

“New Year’s Eve we always knew that it would be a time when many people gathered and you potentially saw that community transmission,” Ms Fyles said.

“I think Territorians a large part wore their masks, they tried to physically distance.

“I think the large majority of Territorians has behaved responsibly.”

Ms Fyles said there were 610 identified close contacts, with 482 in communication with health authorities.

She said these close contacts had produced 310 negative tests.

EARLIER 11AM: HEALTH Minister Natasha Fyles will provide a Covid-19 update to Territorians about lunchtime.

The NT recorded 75 cases of Covid on Tuesday, as the NT government scrapped PCR testing requirements for interstate arrivals.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said at a press conference on Tuesday that interstate travellers would no longer be required to provide a negative PCR test before arriving in the Territory.