The first case of COVID-19 was confirmed today in the remote town of Gunbalanya in the Northern Territory in West Arnhem Land, home to approximately 1,200 people.
Important points:
- A test flash is underway in Gunbalanya following the city’s first COVID case
- The communities of the Tiwi Islands have restricted entry and exit to the islands in response to the rising number of NT cases
- There have been calls for Kakadu to be shut down to reduce Jabiru’s risk, while Bagot community residents want a local lockdown
The man who tested positive had previously spent time in the Darwin and Gunbalanya parishes and authorities believe he was contagious in the parish.
He also spent time at his Gunbalanya home, which he shares with nine other people.
The case sparked a quick response, with authorities flying in and aiming to test every person in the community over the next 24 to 48 hours.
In the meantime, rising numbers of COVID cases across the NT caused the communities on the Tiwi Islands to issue an “entry restriction” order on Monday that effectively blocked itself.
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It comes when residents of Darwin’s largest Aboriginal community, Bagot, requested their lockdown, but NT’s Minister of Health said the health advisory service is currently not backing it up.
There is also discussion of what should be done in Kakadu National Park after the city of Jabiru recorded multiple cases on Monday and the number of cases continues to rise across the NT.
Here’s what’s happening in parishes across the territory.
After the first positive case, further resources will be sent to Gunbalanya
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said at a press conference today that authorities are taking Gunbalanya’s first recorded case of COVID-19 seriously and will do everything in their power to test and vaccinate the community in the coming days.
“The priority in Gunbalanya for the next 24 to 48 hours is to test everyone we can,” he said.
NT has 75 new cases
Authorities have dropped the requirement for a PCR test to enter the NT with immediate effect and are telling anyone waiting in line on the highway to get off the line. The NT reported 75 new cases of COVID-19 today, including the first infection in the Gunbalanya community in western Arnhem Land.
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“We have a very well staffed health clinic on site and we are sending some additional resources to complement it.”
Mr. Gunner also said that travel to and from Gunbalanya is not a problem for the authorities at the moment as the community is as good as cut off.
“You cannot go to Gunbalanya at the moment, [as] Cahills Crossing is closed. The only way to get to Gunbalanya right now is by plane, “he said.
“At this point we are not worried about entering or leaving Gunbalanya.”
He said the contact tracing was ongoing “to determine the risk to the community”.
Read more about the spread of COVID-19:
Communities in the Tiwi Islands restrict travel
On the Tiwi Islands, rising numbers of cases on the NT mainland prompted local authorities to issue an “entry restriction” on Monday evening, an order that de facto blocks the islands’ communities.
Under the new restrictions, non-residents of the Tiwi Islands or those providing basic or emergency services will not be allowed to enter.
Tiwi families were also advised not to avoid travel from the islands.
In a joint statement released Monday, the Tiwi Land Council and the Office of Township Leasing said the travel restrictions were imposed “in response to the ongoing public health risk currently posed by the potential spread of COVID-19.”
“The decision of the director of township leasing to restrict access to Wurrumiyanga, Wurankuwu, Milikapiti and Pirlangimpi was requested by the traditional owners, who are concerned about the protection of their elders and others at risk from health problems, and it was agreed with the agreement the Tiwi Land Council and the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust, “the statement said.
The Tiwi Islands have been COVID-free throughout the pandemic, but their communities have long been concerned about the risk of the disease spreading from the mainland.
The Mayor of West Arnhem supports the temporary closure of Kakadu National Park to stop the spread of COVID in Jabiru. (Four corners: Harriet Tatham)
Closure of Kakadu after Jabiru cases discussed
On Sunday, Jabiru, a small town in Kakadu National Park, recorded three cases of COVID-19 for the first time.
According to the NT government, all three were linked to cases in Darwin and were isolated before returning to the territory’s capital.
But the cases have raised serious concern in some parts of the community.
On Tuesday, Matthew Ryan, Mayor of West Arnhem Regional Council, told ABC Darwin that most traditional owners in the Jabiru area were “quite afraid” of the cases and would take stronger health measures.
He said one of those measures could be the closure of Kakadu, which is currently open to the public.
“In my personal opinion it should be [closed]. Just to protect everyone, “he said.
“That is up to the property owners.
“But people have to talk to the right TOs.”
However, the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation said the traditional Mirarr owners it represents did not support the closure of Kakadu at the time and that it would be an “overreaction”.
“The traditional owners of Mirarr remain confident at the moment that the government will respond to the three identified cases in Jabiru,” the company said in a statement on Monday.
“They also appreciate the proactive support that NGOs, government agencies and the local business community have shown in dealing with the COVID-19 situation in Jabiru.
“While COVID-19 poses a real and direct threat, there is no need to panic and disproportionate overreaction.”
The company said local health authorities and indigenous NGOs are doing “all appropriate testing and tracing” and the flow of information to the community is “strong and reliable”.
Read more about the introduction of vaccines:
calls for the lockdown of Bagot “a decision for the community”
There were in the past few days has demanded that the Bagot community in Darwin be locked downas local residents fear two cases discovered in the community since Friday could lead to a local outbreak.
No new COVID cases were registered there today.
This morning NT Health Secretary Natasha Fyles said ABC Darwin Bagot had not been banned because current health recommendations did not support a lockdown or lockout for Darwin’s urban center.
She said in the meantime that it “would be a decision for” [the community]”.
“I note that they have already taken steps to encourage people not to come and go, and there have been cases in Bagot,” she said.
“And then … some of the nearby remote communities where people come and possibly stay in Bagot and then return to that community have put up some warnings for them as well.”
She said the NT health authorities are in “constant contact” with the community and the Aboriginal community-controlled health organization Danila Dilba.
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