As the Katherine community goes into sudden lockdown, the leadership team at Katherine Town Council is attending the Local Government Association of the Northern Territory (LGANT) annual general meeting in Alice Springs.
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Meanwhile, in Katherine, council administration services will continue with some office staff working from home, but most public-facing services like the waste transfer station and the library are shut with all ground staff staying at home.
Katherine went into a 72-hour lockdown from midnight after the first-ever case of community transmission in the NT was recorded.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner made the announcement at a late-night press conference in Darwin on Thursday night.
COVID-19 NEWS:
Speaking with the Katherine Times on Friday morning, Katherine Mayor Lis Clark, who has been at the LGANT conference with her deputy Kim Henderson and CEO Ian Bodill since Wednesday, said it was only a matter of time before the virus returned to Katherine.
"It was a matter of when, not if," Cr Clark said.
"It was always going to happen.
"For us, it's the first time we've had a community transmission, and we've had so many people visit from interstate, but you can't speculate where it came from. So that is the biggest concern because we don't know where this person has caught it yet. And he wasn't vaccinated either.
"Last time, it was a fly-in, but this one has been in this community for a bit, and where he has caught it from is the issue."
Cr Clark said the council was prepared and went into action immediately and has plans for any likely scenario as the situation develops.
"We've been prepared for quite some time," Cr Clark said.
"And any COVID-19 case will be taken to Darwin."
The best way to keep the pandemic from spreading is vaccination Cr Clark said, and she is encouraging anyone who is not vaccinated yet to get themselves protected.
"Vaccination is the key because yes, you'll still get it, but it may not be life-threatening to you," she said.
"Please stay safe, and please take notice of the broadcasts as they come out and stay at home for the next couple of days until they determine where this person has been."
Essential council services for the next 72 hours are:
RANGERS - Rangers are on emergency response and will be available to respond to emergency animal needs as required.
DEPOT - Closed to the public. Though some depot staff are on emergency response and will be able to respond to emergency needs as required.
WASTE - Closed to the public. Only accessible for essential service providers/contractors (such as domestic rubbish collector).
LIBRARY - Closed to the public.
VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE - Closed to the public.
CIVIC CENTRE - Closed to the public. Though customer service staff are responding to incoming phone calls and emails during normal office hours.
The public can ring Council's main office number 8972 5500 during office hours today. After hours this number is directed to our after-hours service personnel.
Council's after-hours mobile number is 0427 625 855.
Vanessa Arundale
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
Everyone has a story to tell and I like to help them do it.
