The Northern Territory has recorded two more Delta variant COVID-19 cases as an outbreak that started in a central Australian mine grows.
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The most recent Top End cases are the wife and daughter of a worker who left Newmont's Granites Mine, about 540km northwest of Alice Springs, on Friday.
The Palmerston family tested positive while isolating at the Howard Springs quarantine facility, Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters Tuesday.
"We can't be certain, but we are hopeful that the two new cases became infectious while isolating", he said.
"We are still very nervous, we're not close to relaxing yet, there is still a lot of worry.
"I'm planning for the worst-case (scenario)."
READ MORE ON COVID-19
There are now 11 cases linked to the mine but only ten have been recognised by the NT government.
A close contact of one of the two mineworkers diagnosed in Queensland hasn't been included in the Tanami Desert cluster.
The outbreak started when a Victorian man, who had travelled to the mine on June 18 via a Brisbane quarantine hotel, tested positive on Saturday.
About 250 fly-in, fly-out mine workers have since travelled to Western Australia.
Another 170 flew to Queensland, 29 headed to South Australia, and six to Victoria.
Three workers headed for Tasmania and two miners went to New Zealand, with 259 remaining in the Top End.Two workers tested positive in Queensland, along with a close contact.
Another infected mineworker was found in NSW, while two other infected miners who had not left the gold mine were evacuated to Howard Springs.
A Darwin man in his 50s, who left the mine on Friday, has also tested positive.
He travelled to multiple venues, including the Buff Club for more than four hours, before being ordered into quarantine.
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NT Health has found all but 29 of 171 close contacts linked to the members-only watering hole.
They have also been ordered to isolate.
Seven other close contacts, including a taxi driver, have also been found and moved to the Howard Springs facility to quarantine.
Mr Gunner raised concerns for Darwin's itinerant population, many of whom are Indigenous people.
"Larrakia Nation is continuing their excellent work engaging with rough sleepers," he said.
"They are helping us identify anyone who may have visited (the Stuart Park Corner Store Friendly Grocer exposure site) so they can be tested and provided with accommodation."
Mr Gunner said the most recent cases attended a Palmerston Zumba class between 9am and 9:30am on Saturday and that venue was now a close contact exposure site.
Everyone who attended the class and their household contacts have been ordered to isolate at home for 14 days.
Other public exposure sites include the Darwin International Airport departure lounge, Bunnings Darwin, the Chungwua Terrace public toilet and the Commonwealth Bank on Smith Street in the CBD.
The lockdown encompasses the Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield local government areas, and Wagait and Belyuen Shires, with anyone leaving their home required to wear a face mask.
Residents are only permitted to leave home for medical treatment, to obtain essential goods and services, for work considered essential, one hour of exercise a day or to provide care.
Newmont was contacted for comment on Sunday.
AAP
The new, and existing exposure sites
CLOSE CONTACTS - SELF-QUARANTINE AND CONTACT NT HEALTH
If you have been to a public exposure site listed below at the relevant dates and times you must do the following:
- Immediately travel by private transport directly to your home or suitable accommodation and self-quarantine
- Call the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484 and identify yourself as a close contact
- You will be required to get tested and undertake 14 days of quarantine.
COVID-19 UPDATE FROM CHIEF MINISTER: WATCH
This table was last updated 29June 2021 at 12pm
Friday 18 June - Friday 25 June 202 1Newmont Tanami Operations mine site Tanami Track 12.00pm- 25 June 2021
Friday 25 June 2021 Buff Club 57 Stuart Hwy, Darwin *Stuart Par 3.30pm- 8.00pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Zumba Class - Pop up Tent at Recreation Centre, Palmerston 9.00am9.30am
*Any household members of a close contact should also isolate separately from the individual until the contact has returned a negative result.
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CASUAL CONTACTS - SELF-QUARANTINE, GET TESTED AND STAY IN QUARANTINE UNTIL A NEGATIVE TEST IS RETURNED
If you have been to any of the below locations at the relevant dates and times you must do the following:
- Immediately travel by private transport directly to your home or suitable accommodation and self-quarantine.
- Call the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484 and identify yourself as a casual contact.
- Get tested for COVID-19 and remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is returned, even if you are an essential worker.
If you are no longer in the Northern Territory, please check with your relevant state or territory health department for advice and instruction.
Friday 25 June 2021 Corner Store Friendly Grocer, (Previously IGA)Stuart Par k3.20pm- 3.30pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Bunnings Darwin - Tool Shop Corner Bagot Road and Osgood Drive, Coconut Grove10.30am10.40am
Saturday 26 June 2021 Commonwealth Bank, 67A Smith Street, Darwin 11.30am-11.45am
Saturday 26 June 2021 BWS drive thru 15 Parap Road, Parap 11.50am- 12.10pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Flea Market, Palmerston7.45am- 8.45am
Saturday 26 June 2021 Public toilet Palmerston Office ground floor, Palmerston 8.45am-8.50am
Saturday 26 June 2021 Flea Market, Palmerston 9.00am-9.45am
Saturday 26 June 2021 Rockman's clothing store, Palmerston11.00am- 2.00pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Big W - Pet Section, Palmerston 11.00am- 2.00pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Hoskings Jewellers, Palmerston 11.00am - 2.00pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Woolworths, Palmerston 11.00am- 2.00pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Pharmacy 4 Less, Gateway Palmerston11.00am - 2.00pm
Saturday 26 June 2021 Gateway Shopping Centre Underground Carpark, Palmerston 11.00am- 2.00pm
LOW RISK CONTACTS - GET TESTED IF COVID-19 SYMPTOMS DEVELOP. MONITOR FOR 14 DAYS
If you have been to any of the below locations at the relevant dates and times you must do the following:
- Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days
- If you experience any symptoms:
- Self-quarantine at your home or suitable place of accommodation
- Get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine at home until you return a negative result
- Self-quarantine at your home or suitable place of accommodation
- Get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine at home until you return a negative result
- Self-quarantine at your home or suitable place of accommodation
- Get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine at home until you return a negative result
- Self-quarantine at your home or suitable place of accommodation
- Get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine at home until you return a negative result
- Self-quarantine at your home or suitable place of accommodation
- Get tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantine at home until you return a negative result
If you are no longer in the Northern Territory, please check with your relevant state or territory health department for advice and instruction.
Friday 25 June 2021 Darwin International Airport, Eaton1.30pm-3.35pm
Saturday 26 June 2021Gateway Shopping CentrePalmerston 11.00am -2.00pm
*Darwin International Airport casual contacts (staff at the newsagents and Dome Café) are in self-quarantine and getting tested.
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