NT Covid: 286 new cases recorded, hospitalisations climb

Another Tiwi Islands community has been sent into lockdown after recording 18 cases overnight.

UPDATE, MONDAY 5.30PM: MILIKAPATI has entered lockdown for 72 hours, as authroities scramble to manage the spread of Covid in the community.

12 additional cases were recorded since the last update, taking the total to 18.

It is hoped the next three days will be enough to get everyone tested.

Anyone who has been in the area in the last seven days must take a rapid test in the next 24 hours.

EARLIER: THE NT has recorded 286 new cases in the latest reporting period, with just 48 positive results coming from PCR tests.

It takes the total number of cases to about 3900, and the weekly average case numbers has fallen.

“A couple of days of lower numbers and that’s seeing our rolling 7-day average come down to under 400,” Health Minister Natasha Fyles said.

“We’ve certainly flattened the curve.”

However hospitalisations continued to climb, with 78 people now in hospital. Yesterday it was reported there was 61 cases in hospital.

Four people are in ICU and eight people are requiring oxygen.

31 of these cases are in the Alice Springs hospital, including two of the cases in ICU.

Seven cases are in Tennant Creek hospital, two are at Katherine, one in Nulumbuy and a further 38 in Royal Darwin Hospital.

There were seven new cases in the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, taking the total to 89 positive cases. 12 cases were also found at the Barkly Work Camp, taking that total to 66.

10 cases were also recorded in Yuendemu, but the testing numbers in that community have dropped.

Utopia, a community currently in lockdown, recorded one new cases, with Ms Fyles saying the low vaccination rate was of concer.

“We need the community to come forward to get vaccinated, we’ve got a very low vaccination rate of 42 per cent in Utopia,” she said.

All current lockouts and lockdowns remained in place, with no changes announced today.

Ms Fyles said the government have enacted the use of Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT) to assist the community of Galiwin’ku getting tested and getting sick people off the island.

“AUSMAT did work early in the pandemic travelling to remote communities, looking at what they would do if we did need to operationalise them,” she said.

The Territory’s first Auslan interpreter was also present at today’s press conference.

Residents trapped in Covid cluster speak up over ‘traumatising’ treatment

A HUNDRED people have been locked in their rooms with no explanation following a Covid cluster in a Darwin short stay accommodation centre.

On Sunday NT Health confirmed 16 cases were detected overnight, bringing the total active cases to 25 at the Batten Road Short Stay Accommodation, Marrara.

The cases were detected following door-to-door testing of residents on Saturday, and triggered a lockdown at the centre.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said more than 20 people had been removed to Howard Springs, while around 100 people were told to remain in their rooms.

She said there had been abysmal communication with her fellow residents about the emergency protocols.

She said there was “no clarity” provided by NT Health, and they were not told how many cases there were or why they were being confided to their rooms on Sunday.

“It’s all hearsay,” she said.

One young man from Tiwi Islands said he was confused by the whole process.

He said he was double vaccinated and produced a negative rapid antigen test result on Saturday.

He said he did not understand why he then had to take another PCR on Sunday, and was not provided answers by health staff.

“We’re not sure if we’re going to be back to normal tomorrow,” he said.

On Sunday January 23 NT Health confirmed 16 Covid cases were detected at the Batten Road Short Stay Accommodation, Marrara. Picture: Google Earth

A Groote Island woman, who also did not wish to be named, in the centre said the health communications were only in English, meaning many from remote communities were struggling to understand what was happening.

“They haven’t explained anything,” she said.

“We’re getting all locked down. They (just) say ‘don’t leave the room’.”

“We’ve been interpreting.

“Some people struggle with English … (They) don’t understanding the language these white men are talking.”

She said all they were told was that they would be in lockdown for 48-hours from Saturday.

While it was frustrating, she added that the essentials were provided to the rooms but more niche items like baby supplies had not arrived.

The NT News was also provided photos of staff not properly wearing their masks during the initial Saturday testing period.

“(It’s) a poor standard of infection control,” one resident at the centre said.

NT Health spokeswoman said where clinically indicated all NT Health staff wear full PPE including P2/N95 masks, gowns, eye protection or face shields, and double gloves.

“Residents are provided instruction and supervised to self-swab and staff do not have direct contact with the residents or the swab,” she said.

“Following arrival at the Batten Road facility yesterday NT Health staff supplied facility staff with PPE and provided training in the correct methods of donning and doffing.”

NT Health said there was a positive reception in the centre, with health staff describing the behaviour as “outstanding”.

She said 24 people were transferred to Howard Springs after being identified as positive cases or close contacts.

NT Health conducted 315 PCR tests on Sunday with results expected in the coming days.

She said there were also Indigenous staff on-site at the facility to support residents during their stay and facilitate communication.

SUNDAY, 1.30PM: A TENNANT Creek Covid-19 hospital worker has contracted the virus as new cases are detected in Territory prisons, accommodation centres, remote communities and town camps.

NT Health confirmed there were 212 new cases detected on Sunday, bringing the active case toll to 3938.

The largest clusters were in the locked down Galiwinku, with 23 new cases, Darwin’s Batten Road Short Stay Accommodation with 16 cases and 11 new cases in Papunya.

One Batten Rd Stayover resident said more than 20 people had been removed from the Marrara accommodation centre to Howard Springs quarantine.

She said around 100 people had been ordered to stay in their rooms, as six bus loads of residents were taken to the quarantine facility.

It follows extensive testing in the centre on Sunday, with nurses and police going door-to-door conducting Covid tests.

“It’s all happening here,” she said.

“There’s reasonable concern (from residents).”

The Territory’s prison outbreak continued to grow with three new cases in the Darwin Correctional Centre and four cases at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre, including one staff member.

One Tennant Creek Hospital Covid-19 ward staff member contracted the virus.

It comes as 61 Covid patients are being treated in hospital, with nine requiring oxygen.

Two people are in the intensive care unit.

Locked down regions continued to see cases increase, with three cases in Gunbalanya, two cases in Utopia.

There were also cases in regions under lockout, with 10 cases in Yuendumu, one case in Amoonguna.

There were two cases at Hidden Valley Camp and one case at the Little Sisters camp in Alice Springs.

Four cases were detected across Pine Creek and Kybrook Farm.

Umbakumba, Millikapiti and Docker River each recorded three new cases, while Harts Range, Mt. Liebig, Areyonga and Jilkmingan clusters each increased by two new cases.

A single new case was detected in Ramingining, Millingimbi, Kintore and Ntaria.

A Territory-wide indoor mask mandate remains in place.

Lockdowns in Gunyangara, Utopia Homelands, and Wurrumiyanga are expected to end on Saturday January 29.

NT Health said lockouts in Alice Springs, Amoonguna, Yuendumu, and Yuelamu are in place should end on Sunday January 30 and a lockdown in Galiwinku will end on Monday January 31.

Originally published as NT Covid: 286 new cases recorded, hospitalisations climb