Two new Covid exposure sites in Katherine have been announced, including the Oasis Shopping centre.
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The Knotts Crossing Resort reception has now been designed as a close contact site between 1.30pm and 1.40pm on August 15 , as well as between 12.15 and 12.30 on the same day.
The Oasis shopping centre, 5 Katherine Terrace, has been deemed a casual contact location between 1.10pm and 1.20pm on August 15.
Scroll down for more details on what to do if you've been at one of the sites.
Details are being updated on the government's coronvirus website.
EARLIER:
Katherine is heading into a snap lockdown from noon today for 72 hours after a man who has tested positive to COVID-19 visited the town.
Darwin, Palmerston and Darwin rural area are also being locked down as Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said there was a "very real risk" the virus could have travelled into the community.
The Katherine lockdown includes the RAAF Tindal airbase.
Police are also setting up an incident response centre in Katherine.
"For people of Katherine I know this is new and scary for you," Mr Gunner said. "I know that you will be brilliant as we smash this thing."
Katherine testing for close contacts is being scheduled for Tuesday August 17, with Mr Gunner saying it was important to test on the right day.
He encouraged people to only get tested if they were in an at-risk group.
" Last time in Darwin, sadly, there was just too many people getting tested because they were worried," he said
"There are clinical reasons for getting a test. Being a contact from an exposure site is a reason. Being sick is a reason. Being worried is not a reason to get a test. If you line up for a test without actually needing one - it just takes us longer to do our job, which could make the lockdown longer."
The case is a man in his 30s, who was released from hotel quarantine in Sydney after arriving from the United States. He travelled to the Territory via Canberra airport, arriving in Darwin late on August 12, using an Uber and visiting several sites in the city.
He then drove a hire-car to Katherine for work, where he stayed at the Knotts Crossing Resort. The Knotts Crossing reception has been designated as a close-contact location between 1.15pm and 2pm on Sunday.
The Woolworths has been classified as a casual contact location between 12.30pm and 1pm on August 13.
OTHER NEWS:
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said that the man, who is asymptomatic, was being moved to Howard Springs for quarantine.
His positive status was picked up as part of mandatory testing after his arrival in the Territory and while he was in Katherine.
Mr Gunner said that people who were deemed close contacts should immediately isolate and contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484.
"We will directly arrange your COVID test with you. Do not take yourself to a testing facility. Just call us. And we will arrange it," he said
"Once we have arranged your test, you will be required to undertake 14 days of quarantine - regardless of the test result."
Those at casual contact sites should immediately isolate, call the COVID hotline to book an appointment for a test, and stay isolated until a negative test result is received.
As the lockdown takes effect, pleas were made for people to refrain from panic buying.
People will only be allowed to leave home for five reasons, with shopping being confined to click-and-collect services for "everything that isn't groceries/food or medicine".
The five reasons are:
1. Medical treatment, including COVID testing or vaccination;
2. For essential goods and services, like groceries and medicines;
3. For work that is considered essential and can't be done at home;
4. For one hour of exercise a day, with one other person or the people that you live with, and no further than five kilometres from your home; and finally
5. To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves. This includes separated families - you can continue to share the care of your children. This exception also includes people who need to leave a location to protect their safety.
People will also need to wear masks in lockdown areas, with police cracking down on their use.
School buses will run at 2.30pm if parents cannot collect children before then.
COVID-19 EXPOSURE SITES
Current COVID-19 public exposure sites in the Northern Territory are listed below.
In addition to these current public exposure sites, NT Health teams will contact affected businesses and households directly for contact tracing purposes even when they are not listed here.
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.
Quarantine information for close contacts
This table was last updated 16 August 2021 at 13.45pm
12/08/2021 QF1429 Sydney to Canberra Flight 10:20am
12/08/2021 QF1984 Canberra to Darwin Flight 11.20pm
13/08/2021 Darwin Mini Mart, T8/56 Smith Street Darwin city 6:00pm-6:15pm
13/08/2021 Salvatores, Corner of Knuckey Street Darwin city 6:10pm-6:30pm
14/08/2021 Outback Steaks and Curry, Mitchell street Darwin city 1:45pm-3:00pm
14/08/2021 Darwin Mini Mart, T8/56 Smith Street Darwin city 2:40pm-2:50pm
15/08/2021 Knotts Crossing Resort Reception Katherine12:00pm-12:30pm
15/08/2021 Knotts Crossing Resort Reception Katherine1:30pm-1:40pm
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.
- Monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days.
If you are no longer in the Northern Territory, please check with your relevant state or territory health department for advice and instruction.
This table was last updated 16 August 2021 at 13:45pm
13/08/2021 Avis car rental, Darwin Airport Marrara11:30am-11.45am
13/08/2021 Smith Street Mal, Darwin city 5:30pm-6:00pm
13/08/2021 Westpac ATM, Smith Street MallDarwin city 5:40pm-5:45pm
13/08/2021 Darwin Hilton Hotel lobby, Mitchell St, Darwin city 8:30pm-9:10pm
15/08/2021 Woolworths, 5 Katherine Terrace Katherine 12:30pm-1:10pm
15/08/2021 Oasis shopping centre, 5 Katherine TerraceKatherine 1:10pm-1:20pm
Low risk contacts - Get tested if COVID-19 symptoms develop. Monitor for 14 days.
This table was last updated 16 August 2021 at 1.34pm.
12/08/2021 Darwin airport arrivals Marrara 11:30pm-12:00am
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.
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