Tiny remote town 320km from Darwin goes into LOCKDOWN after just one new Covid case – with the NT capital bringing in ‘lockout’ restrictions which ban the unvaccinated from pubs
- Greater Darwin and Katherine thrown into lockdown from midnight Thursday
- Contract worker on RAAF Base Tindal in Katherine contracted coronavirus
- The man aged in his 20s lives in Darwin and has not left the Northern Territory
A single case of Covid has prompted the return of strict Covid restrictions in the Northern Territory, after an unvaccinated man working in the remote outback town of Katherine tested positive.
Greater Darwin was thrown into a ‘lockout’ – where only the fully-vaccinated can go about their business but must wear masks – from midnight on Thursday.
They are not allowed to leave the region, and people must prove they are fully-vaccinated to enter hospitality venues.
The man, believed to be in his 20s and not vaccinated, has not recently travelled out of the NT and is a contract worker at the RAAF Base Tindal in Katherine.
The shock case, and fears of further community transmission, has sent the small town – which is 320km from Darwin, into lockdown for 72 hours, with even the fully-vaccinated banned from leaving home for anything but essential reasons.
Darwin is the first major city to test the ‘lockout’, which sees vaccinated residents allowed to live freely while the unvaccinated must remain home and locals banned from leaving the city (pictured, Darwin under a previous snap lockdown in August)
A contract worker at the RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory has tested positive for coronavirus – throwing the region and Greater Darwin into a snap lockdown
In a late night press conference, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he wouldn’t rule out a full lockdown for Darwin if other cases are discovered.
Vaccinated residents in Darwin are allowed to continue to live as normal, with venues, retail and offices remaining open.
The man had been out in the community and was likely infectious from October 31 to November 2.
The contract worker, who lives in Darwin, first developed symptoms on Tuesday and was tested Wednesday.
He returned a ‘strong positive’ on Thursday, with officials quickly acting to lockdown areas of potential transmission.
There are five exposure sites confirmed so far, including a nightclub, pub and fishing charter.
Darwin is the first major city to test the ‘lockout’, which sees vaccinated residents allowed to live freely while the unvaccinated must remain home and everyone is banned from travelling elsewhere.
‘This doesn’t rule out a full lockdown if circumstances change,’ Mr Gunner said.
‘We do not know where, when or how this man became infected.’
Greater Darwin (pictured) is set to be thrown into strict Covid restrictions from midnight on Thursday after the Northern Territory recorded a shock new case of community transmission
The NT has not yet reached the 80 per cent fully-vaccinated rates, leaving them far behind other Australian states.
Those in Katherine can only leave home to get tested or vaccinated, to get food, for essential work, exercise or medical reasons.
They are only permitted to exercise within a 5km radius from their home.
The restrictions will remain in place until midnight on Sunday.
Vaccinated residents in Darwin will be able to avoid most restrictions but will have to be masked when out of their homes (pictured, Darwin under a previous snap lockdown in August)
Residents of Greater Darwin can go to work and hospitality venues but only if they’re fully-vaccinated (pictured, Darwin under a previous snap lockdown in August)
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