Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson says she is disappointed with the negative comments being made about a Katherine couple who have tested positive for coronavirus.
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Ms Nelson said these opinions being shared on social media were "distressing and disappointing".
"Please take a moment to pause and remind yourself that this couple are our neighbours, our friends,our family members," Ms Nelson said.
"They are members of the Katherine community and I urge all of you to stop scaremongering, stop gossiping, stop sharing misinformation."
The Katherine couple had returned from a holiday in South Africa over a week ago and how flown into Darwin and then driven to Katherine where they self-isolated.
It was late last week they became ill and were tested at the Katherine pandemic clinic where the result was positive.
They are now under the care of NT Health.
Ms Nelson said she had received a number of messages from Katherine residents regarding the couple.
In response to those questions she said it was not important who the couple were and they had "done the right thing" and self isolated themselves on return to Katherine.
Ms Nelson said NT Health and CDC commenced contact tracing.
"Those agencies will contact people that may have had contact with or been exposed to the couple. If you don't get a call from the Health Dept or CDC - then that means you were not in contact with or exposed to the couple."
"Remember, when times are tough, be kinder."
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