COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Territory
| COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Territory | |
|---|---|
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
| Location | Northern Territory, Australia |
| First outbreak | Wuhan, Hubei, China |
| Confirmed cases | 175 |
| Active cases | 2 |
| Hospitalised cases | 2 |
| Recovered | 173 |
Deaths | 0 |
| Fatality rate | 0% |
| Government website | |
| coronavirus | |
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Northern Territory is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Timeline[edit]
2020[edit]
On 24 March 2020, the Northern Territory (NT) government introduced strict border control, with anyone arriving from abroad or interstate being required to self-isolate for 14 days. The only exemption would be due to health and emergency services, defence and policing, flight crews and freight, and based on "compassionate grounds". NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said that the local police and government are likely to impose these measures until September. Anyone now arriving in NT will have to declare that they would isolate for 14 days and let the authorities know of their location during this period at the point of entry. Failure to comply with the new regulations could result in denying entry or a fine of A$62,800. Furthermore, all non-essential travel to the NT's 76 remote communities was banned.[1]
From midday on 1 May, some internal restrictions in NT were eased.[2]
2021[edit]
On 3 February 2021, after a quarantine hotel worker at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne, involved in the Australian Open tennis quarantine program, was found to have COVID-19, Victoria reintroduced some rules, and delayed the imminent easing of some restrictions.[3] On 4 February 2021 the Northern Territory responded to the Melbourne situation by declaring ten suburbs in Melbourne to be hotspots. From 3:30 pm (Australian Central Standard Time–ACST), arrivals into NT from Melbourne, West Melbourne, Noble Park, Keysborough, Springvale, Brighton, Wheelers Hill, Clayton South, Heatherton or Moorabbin will be required to go into mandatory quarantine for 14 days. Those already in NT who have been in a any of the hotspots since 29 January will also have to self-isolate until their COVID-19 testing is negative.[4]
On 22 February, the first COVID-19 vaccinations (phase 1A) in the NT were administered to "at-risk frontline workers" using the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.[5]
By 7 June more than 10,000 Northern Territorians had been fully vaccinated. The NT vaccination program was extended to anyone in Darwin and Palmerston over 16 years-of-age from 8 June. Previously, those over 16 could usually only book for the vaccine if they lived in regional parts of the NT, such as Alice Springs and Katherine.[6]
Event cancellations[edit]
The 2020 Barunga Festival was postponed from June to September, then cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 event is scheduled for 11–13 June.[7]
In 2020 the Finke Desert Race was cancelled, for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This cost the economy of Alice Springs about A$8 million.[8]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Northern Territory introduces strict new coronavirus border controls to halt COVID-19 spread". ABC News. 21 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- ^ Heaney, Chelsea (1 May 2020). "Coronavirus restrictions ease in the Northern Territory amid warnings of a second wave – ABC News". ABC News (online). Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
... from midday today people in the NT were able to camp in some of the area's national parks and reserves, as well as visit public swimming pools, waterparks, go fishing with friends and play golf.
- ^ Murray-Atfield, Yara; Kinsella, Elise (3 February 2021). "Daniel Andrews announces snap coronavirus restrictions for Victoria after hotel quarantine worker tests positive". ABC News. Australia: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Jesse (4 February 2020). "NT declares 10 Melbourne suburbs coronavirus hotspots after hotel quarantine worker case". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "First COVID-19 vaccines administered in NT as national rollout gets underway". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ Gibson, Jano (7 June 2021). "NT becomes first jurisdiction to offer COVID vaccines to everyone over 16". ABC News. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
- ^ Danks, Tom (25 June 2020). "Barunga Festival postponed until 2021". Katherine Times. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Finke Desert Race cancelled due to coronavirus, costing Alice Springs millions". ABC Radio Alice Springs. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2021.