Covid NT: 977 new cases, 6 in ICU

With 141 people in hospital, including six in the ICU, the Government continues to backdate case numbers.

THE NT Government has continued to backdate new Covid-19 case numbers, increasing Wednesday’s numbers to 1217, while 977 new cases were recorded on Thursday.

There are 141 people in hospital, with 15 patients requiring oxygen and six in the ICU.

Of the new cases recorded Thursday, 761 were positive cases from a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

There were 658 cases recorded in the Top End Region, 149 in Central Australia, 65 in the East Arnhem region, 80 in the Big Rivers region, 15 in the Barkly region and 10 are under investigation.

There are currently 141 patients in hospital, with 15 patients requiring oxygen. There are six patients in ICU.

The number of active cases in the NT is about 6900.

Man dies with Covid-19 in aged care home

A MAN has died with Covid-19 in an aged care home in Alice Springs.

The man in his 80s was a resident at the Old Timers Aged Care Service.

He had underlying health conditions and was not vaccinated.

The man died on Wednesday and the death was officially recorded late Wednesday night.

The have now been four COVID-19 related deaths recorded in the Northern Territory since the start of the pandemic.

Indigenous people more likely to be hospitalised with Covid-19

The NT government confirmed late on Wednesday that 91 per cent of people currently in hospital are Indigenous Territorians.

It came on the same day a woman in her 50s has become the third person in the Northern Territory to die of Covid-19.

The woman, who suffered from pre-existing medical conditions, was from a remote community in Central Australia and had received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

The tragic news came as Health Minister Natasha Fyles reported 1133 new cases of the virus on Wednesday.

Over half of the cases were in the Top End.

There were 129 people hospitalised with Covid-19, 13 of whom required oxygen. Five people were in intensive care.

The NT government confirmed late on Wednesday that 91 per cent of people currently in hospital were Indigenous.

The seven-day average in the NT was now 970, with 6567 active cases.

NT Health has also added additional cases to Tuesday’s case numbers, taking that day’s total to 1038.

Ms Fyles said the continuing increase in daily cases was not unexpected.

“Certainly we are seeing that rise we expected as school returned,’ she said.

Deputy chief health officer Dr Charles Pain said he would later on Wednesday look at another death certificate for a person who died in Tennant Creek.

Despite the person testing positive for Covid-19, his death had initially not been deemed to have been caused by the virus.

Dr Pain said the government were tightening up the definition of a Covid-19 death. He said Covid-19 deaths were assessed by a national framework used by all states.

Third Covid death recorded in NT

ANOTHER Covid death has been recorded in the Territory, with a woman from a Central Australian community confirmed as passing from the virus.

The Mutiitjulu woman was in her 50s.

It takes the total number of deaths to three in the NT.

It comes as 1133 cases were announced, taking the total of active cases to 6567 and the seven-day average is at 940.

Hospitalisations currently stand at 129, with 13 people receiving oxygen and five remaining in ICU.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the spike in cases seen this week was not a surprise.

“Certainly we are seeing that rise we expected as school returned,’ she said,

Ms Fyles said all lock-ins would continue.

The third death follows a claim by a top doctor that two more deaths with Covid have occured, but were not reported by the government.

TUESDAY’S NUMBERS

THE Territory has reported a new record day of Covid-19 cases, as hospitalisation numbers continue to rise.

A total of 1122 new cases were recorded in the Territory on Tuesday including a further 152 added to Monday’s total.

There are currently 132 patients in Territory hospitals with Covid, including nine in need of oxygen and four in intensive care.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said while hospital numbers were rising most patients would be able to stay at home with a mild illness.

“Our hospital numbers have again increased,” Ms Fyles said.

“The vast majority of Territorians will have a mild illness and they’ll be able to stay at home with appropriate measures and ensuring that their condition is monitored.”

Originally published as Covid NT: 977 new cases, 6 in ICU