The wife and daughter of a COVID-infected miner are the latest cases in a Delta variant outbreak that started at a mine in central Australia.

June 30, 2021

The family of an infected worker from a central Australian mine are the latest Delta-variant COVID-19 positive cases recorded from an outbreak that’s grown to 11.

The most recent cases in the Top End are the wife and daughter of the worker who left Newmont’s Granites Mine, about 540km northwest of Alice Springs, on Friday.

The Palmerston family tested positive while isolating at the Howard Springs quarantine facility, Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters.

“We can’t be certain, but we are hopeful that the two new cases became infectious while isolating”, he said.

“We are still very nervous, we’re not close to relaxing yet, there is still a lot of worry.

“I’m planning for the worst-case (scenario).”

There are now 11 cases linked to the mine but only ten have been recognised by the NT government.

An infected close contact of one of the two mineworkers diagnosed in Queensland hasn’t been included in the Tanami Desert cluster.

Darwin and its surrounding areas have been in lockdown since Sunday after a young Victorian man, who had travelled to the mine on June 18 via a Brisbane quarantine hotel, tested positive for the virus on Saturday.

Two other infected miners were also located and evacuated to the Howard Springs facility.

Another mineworker, who’d travelled to NSW, was tested and found to be positive for the virus.

As were two co-workers who’d travelled to Queensland, along with a close contact of one.

A Darwin man in his 50s, who left the mine on Friday, was also found to be positive for the virus.

He travelled to multiple venues, including the Buff Club for more than four hours, before being ordered into quarantine.

NT Health has found all but 29 of 171 close contacts linked to the members-only watering hole. They have been ordered to isolate.

Seven other close contacts, including a taxi driver, have also been found and moved to the Howard Springs facility to quarantine.

Mr Gunner raised concerns for Darwin’s itinerant population, many of whom are Indigenous people.

“Larrakia Nation is continuing their excellent work engaging with rough sleepers,” he said.

“They are helping us identify anyone who may have visited (the Stuart Park Corner Store Friendly Grocer exposure site) so they can be tested and provided with accommodation.”

He said the most recent cases attended a Palmerston Zumba class between 9am and 9:30am on Saturday and that venue was now a high-risk close contact exposure site.

Everyone who attended the class and their household contacts have been ordered to isolate at home for 14 days.

Other public exposure sites include the Darwin International Airport departure lounge, Bunnings Darwin, the Chungwua Terrace public toilet, the Commonwealth Bank on Smith St in the CBD and Gateway Shopping Centre in Palmerston.

Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield local government areas, and Wagait and Belyuen Shires, remain in lockdown until Friday, with anyone leaving their home required to wear a face mask.

Residents are only permitted to leave home for medical treatment, to obtain essential goods and services, for work considered essential, one hour of exercise a day or to provide care.