The Northern Territory has scrapped pre-arrival PCR tests for interstate travellers but authorities say the rate of community transmission of the virus appears to be holding steady in recent days.
Key points:
- Five of the new cases are in the remote town of Nhulunbuy
- One is in the west Arnhem Land community of Gunbalanya, where a man likely spent time while infectious
- Interstate travellers are no longer required to provide a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival
The NT recorded 75 new COVID-19 cases in the latest reporting period, down from 95 on the latest 24-hour block.
"Three cases are presumed community transmission, 21 cases are known close contacts, 40 cases are an in-state arrivals for cases, four are in international arrivals and seven cases are under investigation," Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.
Territory-wide, 24 people with COVID-19 are in hospital, none in ICU.
Five of the new cases are in Nhulunbuy. Three of them are linked to interstate travel, and two are known close contacts.
Two new cases were recorded in Tennant Creek, nine in Alice Springs and one in the remote community of Gunbulunya in west Arnhem Land.
The man who tested positive in Gunbulunya recently returned from Darwin, Mr Gunner said, and had likely spent time in the community while infectious.
He shares a house with nine others, Mr Gunner said.
"The priority in Gunbulunya in the next 24-48 hours is to test everyone we can," he said.
The single-dose vaccination rate in Gunbalanya is at 86 per cent, while the double-dose rate is at 71 per cent, Mr Gunner said.
He said extra health workers would be sent to the remote town to help with a coronavirus testing blitz.
He also said authorities were not concerned about movement in and out of Gunbalanya as the road entry at Cahills Crossing was closed.
The only way into the town is via airplane.
Seven other cases were recorded in Darwin's Robertson Barracks, one in a mine worker on Groote Eylandt, and two in people working at the Tanami mine site.
Mr Gunner said the requirement for interstate travellers to provide a negative PCR test result before arriving in the NT had been scrapped.
"If you are in a queue down south trying to get a PCR test, leave," her said.
"We will sort it out when you get here."
Mr Gunner said NT authorities were watching RAT supplies interstate "getting thinner and thinner" and "buckling in some places."
"We need to be in full control of our testing regime and we cannot rely on other jurisdictions from now," he said.
Instead, interstate arrivals must take a rapid antigen test then submit a declaration online within two hours.
Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie said RATs were "starting to become the only option" for COVID-19 testing around the country.
NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said interstate travellers who failed to get a RAT test on arrival into the NT would face a $5,024 fine.
He said interstate travellers would be given four rapid antigen tests at the airport upon arrival.
"For that, we won't have a high level of patience," he said.
"Two hours is more than enough time from once you've gotten off the plane or have driven to a collection point to get your RAT kit and undertake the test."
Commissioner Chalker said the NT's border rules for unvaccinated travellers would remain.
That means all unvaccinated interstate travellers arriving in the NT will be sent to a quarantine facility, he said.
Authorities will enforce the rule at airports and road border checkpoints.
Mr Gunner said it was "too early" to tell how effective the Territory’s indoor mask mandate, introduced on New Year's Eve, had been.
He said the Territory’s rate of community transmission was being monitored "very closely" but it was currently "holding steady".
The mask mandate has no set end date.
Dr Heggie urged everyone eligible to get their COVID-19 booster, especially if they had vulnerabilities.
"We may have not quite extinguished the regional outbreak which of course is a Delta outbreak," he said.
"Delta we know does more harm."
Authorities assume that the COVID-19 cases in interstate arrivals are Omicron.
There were 1,834 coronavirus tests carried out yesterday across the NT, Mr Gunner said.
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2022-01-04 04:03:42Z
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