NT’s early role as quarantine hub for Wuhan, Diamond Princess evacuees accelerated pandemic response

THE Northern Territory’s involvement as a quarantine hub for Australians evacuated from coronavirus ground-zero meant the jurisdiction was ahead of the pack in realising the potentially catastrophic impact of the pandemic.

Evacuees from Wuhan, China arrive by bus at Maingurr-Ma Camp in Howard Springs on February 9. Picture: Che Chorley

THE Northern Territory’s involvement as a quarantine hub for Australians evacuated from coronavirus ground-zero meant the jurisdiction was ahead of the pack in realising the potentially catastrophic impact of the pandemic.

In outlining the NT’s coronavirus response timeline, Health Minister Natasha Fyles said she began receiving briefings in mid-January before the situation “rapidly evolved”.

“There was certainly a sense of, this is something from a faraway place to actually, this is going to potentially have a huge impact,” she said.

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Health Minister Natasha Fyles addresses the media regarding the lifting of some coronavirus restrictions last week. Picture Che Chorley

The federal and NT governments announced on February 7 that the disused Inpex mining camp on Darwin’s outskirts would be set up to take a second load of 266 Australians being repatriated from Wuhan, after Christmas Island was deemed full.

The Howard Springs site later hosted 160 passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

“It was a combination of (having) the facility at Howard Springs and (having) the resources of the National Critical Care and Trauma Centre,” Ms Fyles said.

“I think that really helped us in terms of our clinicians in our community and as a government go, ‘this is serious and this moves in a way that you can’t imagine’.

An aerial photo of former Inpex workers’ camp, Manigurr-ma residential village, in Howard Springs. Picture: Che Chorley

“That helped us in those early days (the Chief Minister) was very responsive when I went to him (with) this is what the health professionals are saying, that we need to close our borders.

“Up until that point, I don’t think people would ever think that Australia would shut down like that so that really focused our attention, which I think in turn has certainly helped Territorians.”

A total of 10 people tested positive while in quarantine at Howard Springs, including WA resident James Kwan, 78, who became the first Australian to die from the virus after being repatriated to his home state.

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The NT’s borders were shut on March 24 and the Government has vowed to lift those restrictions last.

The NT has recorded 30 cases of coronavirus, the lowest of any jurisdiction in Australia, with no community transmission recorded.