Only one in three people living in remote Aboriginal communities in the Barkly region are fully vaccinated and authorities are concerned about potential spread after four new COVID-19 cases were today recorded in the area's biggest town.
Key points:
- NT Health data shows 35 per cent of people living in remote Aboriginal communities in the Barkly region are fully vaccinated
- Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison described the vaccination rate in Tennant Creek as "frustratingly low"
- Tennant Creek is in lockdown until 5:00pm Monday
All four COVID-positive people spent time in Tennant Creek, home to around 3,000 residents, while infectious.
Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin says he has been waiting for a confirmed case in Tennant Creek since coronavirus was detected in the town's wastewater last weekend.
"It's sort of been a bit, not if, but when it would happen," he said.
"Everyone's a bit worried … but we've got to take this day by day, there's no time to freak out."
Many people from nearby remote Aboriginal communities use Tennant Creek as a service hub, prompting fears people may have become infected with the virus and taken it back to remote locations with low vaccination rates.
NT Health data shows 35 per cent of people living in remote Aboriginal communities in the Barkly region are fully vaccinated and 47 per cent of residents are partially protected.
In some remote communities in the region, fewer than 20 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.
'Our worst fears have been realised'
Authorities say a woman in her 40s has been infectious since Sunday and spent time in Tennant Creek and the Wuppa Town Camp, which is home to around 90 people.
Member for Barkly Steve Edgington said there was "severe overcrowding right across the Barkly" and he was concerned the virus may have already spread across Wuppa Town Camp and infiltrated nearby communities.
Mr Edgington described Wuppa Town Camp as a "throughfare" between two other nearby camps, with many family groups intermingling.
"We still have large families, lots of visitors, living in overcrowded houses."
Mr Edgington said, in his option, the chances were "very high" the virus had travelled outside the town of Tennant Creek.
Presumptive positive Thursday midday
The woman in her 40s tested positive in Tennant Creek on Thursday.
In a press conference on Friday, Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said authorities were "dealing with it around the middle of the day" Thursday but a retest was required.
Mr Edgington said the government should have addressed the media on Thursday if they knew there was a presumptive positive case.
"Tennant Creek is a very small town, yesterday there was a lot of rumours going around that there were two people isolating in Tennant Creek Hospital and it was pretty well known in the town that there was contact tracing going on at the same time," he said.
"The government was obliged to let people know yesterday so people could have taken some action yesterday."
The lockdown in Tennant Creek was announced on social media around 11:00am on Friday and further details released during a midday press conference.
The town is now in lockdown until 5:00pm on Monday, December 20.
'Disappointingly low' vaccination rates
Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison described the vaccination rate in Tennant Creek as "frustratingly low".
She said 83 per cent of people in the town had one dose and 70 per cent of residents had both.
Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie pointed to misinformation "emanating from the United States", particularly from faith leaders from Pentecostal churches, as a key factor hindering the vaccine rollout in remote areas.
NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said a man had been spreading myths that COVID-19 was a "non-Aboriginal illness and not one that Aboriginal people would be susceptible to".
"I think our experiences more recently have categorically shown that that is simply untrue," he said.
Mr McLaughlin pointed to three key things for dragging the region's vaccination rates down.
Mr McLaughlin, who is fully vaccinated, urged people to roll up their sleeves.
"We've got to take this day by day," he said.
"But if the community works together and everyone gets themselves vaccinated, we'll be okay."
Stephanie Butterworth, owner of Little Rippers department store in Tennant Creek, said it was "nerve-racking" going into the sudden lockdown.
"It's very daunting being a business owner going into Christmas, generally our busiest week of the year coming up next week," she said.
Ms Butterworth was anxious about the days ahead.
"To find that out this morning, I had a big, overwhelming gush of emotion come over me, obviously we have some of the most vulnerable population in Australia living here, and I understand why it needs to be done," she said.
"But at the same time, not being able to trade and having five children and overheads and everything else that we need to keep ticking along.
Loading form...
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTEyLTE3L250LWNvdmlkLWZvdXItY2FzZXMtdGVubmFudC1jcmVlay1jb21tdW5pdHktaW4tbG9ja2Rvd24vMTAwNzA5OTA00gEA?oc=5
2021-12-17 08:46:06Z
1203924788
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Tennant Creek plunged into COVID lockdown as community confirms four new cases - ABC News"
Post a Comment