Parts of Northern Territory plunged into Covid-19 lockdown

Galiwin’ku and Elcho Island have begun a seven-day lockdown, while Yirrkala is having a 72-hour lockdown.

The lockdowns will apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

It comes after Alice Springs, Yuendumu, Amoonguna and Yuelamu had a lockout imposed for unvaccinated people on Sunday until January 23.

Yirrkala was under a lockout until Monday afternoon when the lockdown was then imposed.

The NT recorded 284 new cases overnight, with 39 patients in hospital and 25 of them classified as acute. One person is in intensive care in Alice Springs.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison said there were now 19 cases in Galiwin’ku, which meant it required a lockdown to slow the spread of the virus.

“This is a very isolated part of the Northern Territory … We have many people there with complex needs,” she said.

“What we want to do is limit the movement of people in and out of Galiwin’ku and Elcho Island … there are a lot of homelands there and they move among each other on the island.

“We want to make sure that we slow the spread of Covid there — that is really important.

“We think it will be very difficult to eliminate Covid-19 from Elcho Island and Galiwin’ku.”

Ms Manison said vaccine rates on the island were “OK” but were below the rates of some other East Arnhem communities.

Two cases were reported in Yirrkala, as well as a positive wastewater result.

“We have sent in additional resources to do testing right across Yirrkala,” Ms Mainson said.

There were another seven cases in Yuendumu and six in Yuelamu.

But Ms Manison said the lockouts were going well so far.

“We are slowing the spread of the virus,” she said.

During the lockdown, residents must stay at home and wear a mask when they leave for the following five reasons:

• Medical treatment, including Covid testing or vaccination;
• Essential goods and services, such as groceries, medications or power tokens;
• Work that is considered essential;
• One hour of outdoor exercise per day within 5km from your home with one other person or people from your house; and
• To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.

In lockout areas, fully vaccinated people can live normally within the lockout area, but mandatory mask use remains in place.

Unvaccinated people aged 16 and over must stay at home and can only leave for the following four reasons:

• Medical treatment, including Covid testing or vaccination;
• Essential goods and services, like groceries, power tokens and medications;
• An hour of exercise, while wearing a mask; and
• To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.

You cannot travel more than 30km from your home, unless it is to go to a hospital.

Unvaccinated people may access essential services only, including supermarkets, hospitals or to get takeaway food.

Originally published as Parts of Northern Territory plunged into Covid-19 lockdown