The Northern Territory is currently facing a growing Covid-19 outbreak which has largely infected First Nations peoples in the Katherine and Robinson River regions. The total number of infections within this cluster currently stands at 19.
The cluster has been developing since the beginning of November, with health officials announcing yesterday that a three-week-old girl was among the positive cases. All 19 people who have tested positive for the virus are First Nations peoples, with officials concerned the spread will continue.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced that one pub in Katherine had 66 close contacts.
“We know how quickly Delta can spread within households and we cannot be sure yet that it hasn’t spread further into the Robinson River and Katherine communities, or wider in the territory,” said Mr Gunner.
Both the Katherine and Robinson River regions have been in lockdown since the start of this week. A mask mandate is also in effect until Monday.
The Robinson River community is remote and small in population, with roughly 350 residents. Among those, 77 per cent are fully vaccinated.
“This is a lot of cases. This is a case in a remote community, these are all Aboriginal Territorians. This makes real every fear that we’ve had,” said Mr Gunner.
“We have always been concerned for our remote communities, because of their mobility and vulnerability, especially since Delta has emerged.”
Affected communities are rushing to vaccinate their populations to prevent further household infection, which was been the primary source of infection among positive cases.
Confirmed positive cases have been moved to Darwin’s Howard Springs quarantine centre.
Authorities encourage Territorians to keep testing and get vaccinated.
“I need everything in the Territory to treat this seriously and I believe you are,” said Mr Gunner.
“I’m again making another call for anyone in the Northern Territory who is not vaccinated to get the jab.”
Mr Gunner said contact tracers were struggling to keep up with exposure sites, especially at a Katherine pub where a hard-copy check-in register was “illegible”.
“We need your help to prevent those admissions to hospital,” said Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Charles Pain.
“Our system is prone to being overwhelmed if we cannot get people protected.”
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