What's happening November 18: Genomic sequencing results show clusters connected

The Katherine Times will be bringing you rolling updates of the essential information you need to know during Katherine's third lockdown - so keep coming back to this story.

The town's lockdown has been extended until 6pm on Monday after new cases were announced and a Territory wide mask mandate was introduced until the same time.

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LOCKDOWN 3.0: Key facts

NT Health announced via its Facebook page that genomic sequencing test results had come back and confirmed that the current Katherine-Robinson River cluster is linked to the previous outbreak.

"This means that we are now dealing with one single outbreak with all cases from Darwin, Katherine and Robinson River epidemiologically connected," the Facebook post reads.

"This is a really important piece of the puzzle, as we know that COVID was in the Katherine community between November 4 and November 13, and our health teams can concentrate efforts on finding the missing links and trapping the virus within the Territory."

The biosecurity zone implemented by the Federal Government to prevent people from entering or leaving the Robinson River and surrounding homelands should be to be extended to Borroloola, Senator for the Northern Territory, Dr Sam McMahon said.

"I have urged both Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and Northern Territory Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison to include Borroloola in the biosecurity zone as it is the main service town for Robinson River and the towns share a common border," Dr McMahon said.

"It is vital these measures are taken as quickly as possible to prevent any further spread of the current Covid outbreak."

Mr Hunt imposed the biosecurity zone under section 477 of the Commonwealth Biosecurity Act 2015, to prevent a person from entering and/or exiting the Robinson River and surrounding homelands, which is aimed at stopping any further spread of COVID-19 in the community. The measures will help to contain the current outbreak by ensuring that a person will only enter and/or leave the area if necessary, and for essential purposes.

We're still waiting to see what new exposure sites will turn up today. You can find the full list for Lockdown 3.0 so far here.

Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, at his press conference on Wednesday said that the case at MacFarlane was a tutor and they had identified three close contacts, who are all adults. No children were so far close contacts.

The school has posted the following on social media:

Earlier this afternoon, the Chief Minister announced nine new cases in the Katherine region and that the lockdown in Katherine has been extended for seven days, until 6pm, Monday 22 November 2021.

Schools and early childhood education and care services in the Katherine region are only open to children of essential workers or vulnerable children, as well as those undertaking senior secondary school exams.

One of our staff members, who is fully vaccinated, has tested positive to COVID-19.

Those who are close contacts have been contacted by the Department of Health. I ask all our staff to please follow any advice provide by the Department of Health.

The school will be undergoing a thorough clean in line with directions from the Department of Health.

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All students who attend MacFarlane Primary School are encouraged to get a COVID-19 test immediately.

The school will remain open only for children of essential workers or vulnerable children.

Students who attend school from tomorrow may be required to be tested upon arrival.

A mask mandate is in place across the NT until Monday 22 November 2021. A mask must be worn at all times when you are outside of your home and unable to maintain a physical distance of 1.5m of another person who you do not reside with.

If you waited because you didn't think COVID would get here, it's here, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said as he urged people to get vaccinated

If you're not familiar with Wilcannia, it is a remote town in New South Wales which had more than 100 cases of COVID-19 in August this year. More than 10 per cent of the town tested positive to the virus and, because of housing conditions, 30 motorhomes had to be brought in by the state government to help people isolate. It's a dire comparison for the Territory.

Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy has called for immediate fixes to overcrowding in remote community houses. "How can people isolate when they're 15 to 20 people to a house for starters?"

The fourth round of one-off $1000 payments to help businesses hit by the lockdowns in Katherine and Robinson River are now available.

Katherine and Robinson River have been declared hotspots for purpose of Commonwealth support

The hotspot declaration for the Municipality of Katherine is until 11,59 pm on November 22, while the Robinson River and surrounding homelands is until 11.59pm on November 18.

A hotspot declaration allows the Commonwealth to help provide PPE gear, support aged care, help with contact tracing, COVID testing, reprioritising vaccine supplies, facilitating COVID-19 Disaster Payments, telehealth services and childcare.

More details on the hotspots and restrictions can be found on the Northern Territory Government website.

NT Farmers AGM cancelled

NT Farmers has decided to postpone the AGM which was scheduled for this Thursday in light of the lockdown

A new date for the AGM should be set for December. If you have questions or would like to register to attend, contact pco@ntfarmers.org.au

St Joseph's Catholic College Year 12s graduated with a mass, presentation evening and dinner.

Crank up the aircon, it's going to get hot. Not only is the "build-up", well, building up but there is going to be a week of 40 degree plus days. Have a look at what's in store.

A bit of non-COVID cheer with Garry Branson being recognised as the career firefighter of the year on Tuesday night. Way to go Garry.

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