The Top End is set to find out if it will stay locked down after a COVID-19 infected man allegedly lied to authorities after leaving a central Australian mine.

July 2, 2021

Top End residents are set to find out if a COVID-19 lockdown will end as planned after an infected miner breached his isolation order and allegedly lied to authorities.

Darwin and it’s surrounding areas were locked down on Sunday after a worker at Newmont’s Granites Mine, in the Tanami Desert, was diagnosed with COVID-19.

The stay-home order was scheduled to end at 1pm on Friday but that was thrown into doubt late Thursday when authorities learned another infected mine worker had breached an order to isolate.

The man in his 50s was moved to the National Centre for Resilience at Howard Springs, near Darwin, on Sunday after reporting he had spent 36 hours in the community.

But he allegedly lied to health workers about his movements after he was ordered to stay home and wait to be moved to Howard Springs.

A furious Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Thursday revealed the man had allegedly breached the health direction and visited a Darwin supermarket to buy cigarettes on Sunday before entering quarantine.

That venue immediately became a public exposure site as health workers raced to contact trace customers and workers for COVID testing.

The effectiveness of their work will determine if the Top End lockdown ends or whether it is extended into the weekend.

Mr Gunner is expected to hold a press conference at noon on Friday to update the public.

The crisis started on Saturday when a young Victorian man, who travelled to the mine via a Brisbane quarantine hotel, tested positive for the virus.

More than 700 workers were immediately ordered to isolate at the mine as authorities scrambled to track about 800 more who had flown to their homes around Australia after the infected miner arrived.

It’s understood 17 cases are linked to the outbreak.

The man at the centre of Thursday’s warning left the mine on June 25.

He travelled to multiple venues, including Darwin’s Buff Club, before being ordered to isolate while he waited to be moved to Howard Springs.

Mr Gunner says the man would be further “interrogated” to ensure he has fully revealed his movements in the community while infectious.

Greater Darwin’s 48-hour lockdown started at 1pm on Sunday. It was extended for 72 hours on Tuesday and includes the Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield Council areas, and Wagait and Belyuen Shires.

Alice Springs followed with a 72-hour lockdown at 1pm on Wednesday when it was revealed another infected miner had spent the best of a day at the town’s airport on his way home to Adelaide a week ago.

The town is currently scheduled to end its lockdown on Saturday.