Health authorities are planning to open pandemic clinics across the Territory.
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The first clinic will be opened tomorrow for testing on the campus of Royal Darwin Hospital.
The clinics are seen as important to test and treat patients away from hospital emergency departments.
There is a special concern about the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 into remote Indigenous communities.
NT Health Department says it is "establishing processes for managing and testing anyone who may have the infection" in remote communities.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said last week "authorities have reached out to these remote Indigenous communities to increase their preparedness against an outbreak in Australia.
"We have been engaging with Indigenous leaders because in remote Indigenous communities if the virus were to get to those places, obviously there is a real vulnerability there," he said.
Authorities said the fear stems from the level of chronic disease Indigenous people suffer that makes them vulnerable and their lack of access to health services.
Elsewhere in the Territory's, NT Health plans to establish similar clinics to that being trialed in Darwin "to support GPs".
Today's core message from NT Health was for anyone with the virus is to maintain strict hygiene by:
- Washing your hands
- Avoid shaking hands with people who may be unwell
- Stay at a distance of 1.5 m away from someone who is unwell
- Coughing or sneezing into your elbow
- Don't go to crowded places if you're unwell including staying home from school or work.
There is still only one confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Territory.
All updates are available on www.securent.nt.gov.au and SecureNT Facebook.
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