NT childcare centres to receive government grants to help fund COVID-19 safety measures, as only three active coronavirus cases remain in the Territory

TERRITORY childcare and daycare centres will be able to access grants worth up to $10,000, as the NT Government dips into the education budget to help the sector adapt to the ‘new normal’.

TERRITORY childcare and daycare centres will be able to access grants worth up to $10,000, as the NT Government dips into the education budget to help the sector adapt to the “new normal”.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles today announced $450,000 from the Department of Education’s existing budget will go toward providing grants to childcare, family day care and after school care centres to help pay for cleaning supplies and other coronavirus safety related resources.

It comes as the NT logged another day of zero new coronavirus cases.

Three active cases remain, including one Territorian “diagnosed some time ago” and two ADF personnel who had recently returned from the Middle East.

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Health Minister Natasha Fyles. Picture: Che Chorley

They are all being cared for by the Top End Health Service, though where exactly was not specified.

Nationwide, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed 66 people with COVID-19 are in hospitals across Australia, including 27 in ICU and 18 on ventilators.

Ms Fyles, revealing the NT has the third highest rate of coronavirus testing per capita in the nation, also announced ten out of 28 Federal Government funded “point of care” testing stations would be based in the NT.

The testing stations, developed so people can be swabbed for coronavirus in remote locations and receive their results within hours, will be based out of isolated areas including Yuendumu and Borroloola.

Increased testing is a one the pillars in the NT Government’s coronavirus restriction easing “test, trace and trap” plan. Just nine days remain until pubs, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to reopen in the NT, with restrictions.

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Ms Fyles said more than 150 businesses had already submitted their COVID-19 safety management plans with the government.

But she warned Territorians to remain hyper vigilant, as without a cure or vaccine for the virus, the community remains one case away from a deadly cluster or sparking community transmission.