A strict testing mandate will be enforced for a number of streets in Katherine, with plans to scrap home quarantine for all fully vaccinated NT arrivals going ahead in less than a fortnight.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Chief Minister Michael Gunner told media on Thursday that three people had tested positive to COVID-19 in the NT in the last 24 hours.
One of them, an unvaccinated teenager, is a household contact of a recent case from the Katherine East area.
Another, a fully-vaccinated woman in her 80s, is a close contact of a COVID case from London and the third is a fully-vaccinated man from Sydney.
Mr Gunner also said a new testing regimen would be introduced for a small part of Katherine East where authorities believe there could still be cases.
Read more:
"We do still have concerns about Katherine. It's clear that there are a small collection of households in about three or four adjoining streets and Katherine East that are largely unvaccinated [and] spend a substantial amount of time together and are still a high risk," he said.
"We decided this morning to implement a more intensive testing effort in the streets in the next few days.
"A new Chief Health Officer direction will be issued later today. That applies only to residents in the streets, nowhere else in Katherine. It would be a legal requirement to get tested."
Mr Gunner also said he was confident to proceed with the December 20 date to scrap home quarantine for fully-vaccinated arrivals.
He said that "red zones" and "green zones" were being abolished, with vaccination status being the main consideration for travellers.
All interstate arrivals and returning Australian residents from overseas will have to provide a negative PCR test from 72 hours before arriving, another 72 hours after their arrival and a final one on their sixth day in the Territory.
They will also have to spend the next 14 days after arriving in a "high-vaxx" area which is Darwin, Katherine or Alice Springs. Although, it is possible to travel between these areas.
Mr Gunner said the testing requirements would be strongly enforced regardless of the holiday period.
"It doesn't matter if it's Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Years Day. Whatever day it is, if you need to take a test, then you need to get your test."
He said rapid antigen testing at the airport for arrivals will no longer be required.
"It puts a big strain on staffing capacity which will only get worse as more and more people come here."
The Katherine Times has removed the paywall from our stories relating to health warnings and safety of the community in regards to the coronavirus. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
