Warning for Territorians to be ready for Covid-19 isolation amid new wave
Health officials have warned of a severe Covid-19 wave and the chief health officer has made a call on masks indoors. FIND OUT WHAT HE SAID.
Northern Territory
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CHIEF health officer Dr Charles Pain has ruled out a return of the mask mandate but recommended Territorians wear face coverings indoors to limit the spread of hyper-infectious new Covid subvariants.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has urged Territorians to be ready to go into isolation as cases across the NT climb.
The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron are believed to be more infectious than previous strains of Covid-19, with cases across the Territory climbing in recent weeks.
Infections are expected to peak later this month but Dr Pain has ruled out bringing back dreaded restrictions, such as mask mandates.
Ms Fyles said she wanted vulnerable people and pregnant women to “think ahead a little” and consult their GP ahead of time about what they may need to prepare for.
“Have a Covid care plan with your GP, so that perhaps if you need it, they can prescribe those important antivirals quickly to you which can see you manage the illness and not need to go into hospital,” she said.
“So for anyone who fits the category of high risk patient, they should reach out to their GP and get a Covid-19 care plan in place so that if they are to test positive, they can enact that.”
Ms Fyles said no additional restrictions were being reintroduced but urged anyone eligible for either their third or fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, or the flu vaccine, to get the jab as soon as possible.
Territorians over the age of 30 will be able to receive their fourth dose of the vaccine on July 11, after a major federal health body gave the medical tick of approval to the further booster shot.
Dr Pain said while mask mandates were not returning, he recommended people who couldn’t physically distance to wear a mask.
“We all have masks now. Please, please do that and set an example.”
Dr Pain said the two subvariants were “more infectious” than previous types of Omicron but were not as severe.
He said a peak in cases was expected in “the middle of the month”.
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