Woman, 21, who brought Covid to Territory apologises for lying

A Cairns woman is ‘deeply remorseful’ for her ill-fated NT holiday that caused the Top End lockdown and lockout.

The 21-year-old Cairns woman is currently at the Howard Springs Corona virus quarantine Centre on Darwin's outskirts. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A 21-YEAR-OLD whose holiday to the NT caused a major lockdown in the Top End has said she was “deeply remorseful”.

The Cairns woman, who asked not to be named, has admitted she did not tell border officials that she spent four days in the hotspot zone which covers all of Victoria.

The young woman said she went to Victoria to see her father who had been diagnosed with cancer.

Health officials said the 21-year-old flew from Cairns to Adelaide before driving to Melbourne on October 21.

She spent four days in Victoria before driving back to Adelaide on October 25, going back to Cairns before flying to Darwin on October 29.

The Cairns woman said she was sorry for the damage her NT holiday had inadvertently caused residents and businesses.

The 21-year-old previously said her mental health had suffered after being “interrogated” by police and labelled a sex worker by top officials.

“The NT Police interrogate(d) me asking if I was a sex worker 100 times over – which I’m not,” she said.

She said she was horrified when this accusation was repeated by Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Facebook on Monday at 5pm.

In a now deleted post, Mr Gunner’s page wrote to his 40,000 followers “she is a sex worker, she should not be judged for this”.

“I am so f — king livid at the moment,” she said.

Following the NT News story Health Minister Natasha Fyles was questioned by Katie Woolf on Mix 104.9 over why the statement was released to Mr Gunner’s official page.

Natasha Fyles was questioned over why the statement was released to Mr Gunner’s official page. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Fyles did not answer questions as to how the sex worker line of inquiry began or what led to the incorrect post being published, instead repeating that a “process error” had occurred and the statement was removed.

She said Mr Gunner did not approve the post to his official Facebook page.

“He apologises unreservedly,” Ms Fyles said.

Ms Fyles said the occupation of those being interviewed by police and health workers “doesn’t matter”, what was important was they help track down all possible contacts.

She said trying to recollect all locations visited had been difficult for some people.

“You may be nervous about that process, but it is used from a health perspective for contact tracing and that’s what is important,” Ms Fyles said.

“We’re not wanting to judge you on what you’ve been doing over the last few days or weeks, we just need that information.”

Ms Fyles said it was important to note that sex work was legal in the Northern Territory.

“It’s a legitimate industry and they’ve worked hard to keep their workers and clients safe,” she said.

“(But) she said she isn’t a sex worker and that’s the end of that.”