The Security and Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) tonight made the decision under the Northern Territory (NT) pandemic plan to lockdown parts of the NT following a positive COVID-19 case – the first case of community transmission in the NT.
Effective from midnight tonight, the Municipality of Katherine including Tindal will enter into a full lockdown for 72 hours.
As a result of high vaccination rates in the Greater Darwin Region, the below areas will enter into a lockout for 72 hours. This means fully-vaccinated people will be able to continue to live life as normal within the following Local Government Areas.
- City of Darwin
- City of Palmerston
- Litchfield Council
- Wagait Shire
- Belyuen Shire
- Dundee
- Bynoe
- Charlotte
- Cox Peninsula
The lockdown and lockout follows confirmation of a COVID-19 positive case of a man in his 20’s who is a NT resident and lives between Humpty Doo and Katherine where he works at the RAAF Tindal Base. He is unvaccinated and is being transported by CareFlight to the Centre of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Resilience tonight. It is not known where he contracted COVID-19. Wastewater testing is negative at this time.
The man was tested for COVID-19 on 3 November 2021 and returned a positive test tonight. He was infectious in the community between 31 October 2021 and 3 November 2021. Contact tracing is underway and the man’s household contacts in both Darwin and Katherine are isolating at home.
The man visited various locations in Darwin and Katherine during his infectious period. The exposure site locations are available at coronavirus.nt.gov.au.
Lockdown details for Katherine
From midnight tonight, residents must stay at home for the 72 hour lockdown period and people are only permitted to leave for the following five reasons:
- Medical treatment, including COVID testing or vaccination
- For essential goods and services, like groceries and medications
- For work that is considered essential
- For one hour of outdoor exercise a day within 5 km from your home with one other person or people from your house
- To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.
Masks must be worn if you leave your place of residence. Your place of residence is where you live right now.
Lockout details for Greater Darwin
From midnight, fully vaccinated residents will be able to live normally within the lockout area. Everyone must wear a mask outside their place of residence.
Unvaccinated residents, including those people who have received only their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, must stay at home for the 72 hour lockout period and are only permitted to leave for the following four reasons:
- Medical treatment, including COVID testing or vaccination
- For essential goods and services, like groceries and medications
- For one hour of outdoor exercise a day within 5 km from your home with one other person or people from your house
- To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.
Vaccinated and unvaccinated essential workers can go to work in both Katherine and Darwin. Only vaccinated essential workers are allowed to leave the area for work.
Schools in affected areas will remain open and children who are 16 years and under will be treated in the same way as fully vaccinated people. Unvaccinated parents are permitted to drop their child off at school or childcare but are not permitted to enter school grounds or childcares centres.
Businesses and organisations are obligated to ensure employees, customers, visitors and participants are fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated people may access essential services only including supermarkets, hospitals or to get takeaway food.
Anyone caught breaching today’s Directions – including not wearing a mask – face a $5,000 fine.
Police will be establishing interception points to control travel in and out of these regions.
Territorians in the lockdown and lockout areas should not travel unless it is for one of the essential reasons.
If you have symptoms, you are urged to get tested and stay isolated until you receive a negative result.
It is critical all Territorians get the COVID-19 vaccine. You can or call the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484.
