NT Health rushes to reassure Territorians about ‘very strict’ protocols at Howard Springs quarantine facility
THE NT Department of Health has reassured Territorians that strict protocols are in place for staff at the Howard Springs and Alice Springs quarantine facilities after it emerged that a COVID-19 cluster in Adelaide likely started from a worker at a medi-hotel.
Northern Territory
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THE NT Department of Health has reassured Territorians that strict protocols are in place for staff at the Howard Springs and Alice Springs quarantine facilities after it emerged that a COVID-19 cluster in Adelaide likely started from a worker at a medi-hotel.
A spokeswoman from NT Health said both the Alice Springs and Howard Springs quarantine facilities had “very strict infection control measures in place to protect the health of staff, contractors and the people undertaking quarantine”.
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“All staff working at Northern Territory Government quarantine facilities are required to undertake PPE Training as part of their induction and complete a refresher training course every two weeks,” she said.
“All people entering the Howard Springs quarantine facility are required to have their temperature checked upon arrival.
“All health professionals travelling to the Northern Territory from interstate are required to undergo a COVID-19 test before commencing work.”
Australian Medical Association NT President Robert Parker said the South Australian outbreak was a reminder of “how dangerous this virus is”.
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“We’ve been very lucky, we’ve had such a good response in Australia that we have become a bit complacent,” Dr Parker said.
However, he said there was less chance of a breakout from Howard Springs because of the “more rigorous protocols AUSMAT are employing”.
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