Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
NT chief frustrated over infected US man

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner wants to know the vaccination status of a COVID-19 infected US defence contractor who triggered a lockdown.

August 18, 2021

Northern Territory Chief Minister is frustrated a COVID-19 infected US defence contractor refuses to say if he’s vaccinated after triggering a Top End lockdown.

There’s speculation the man’s reluctance could lead to the Territory requiring all travellers to be vaccinated before entering the NT.

The man in his 30s travelled to Darwin via Canberra on Thursday after 14 days in a Sydney quarantine hotel, where he tested negative for the virus.

He’s been co-operating with authorities after driving 300km to Katherine and testing positive on Sunday but refused to say if he’s had the jab.

“It’s not a question he’s answering,” Michael Gunner told reporters on Wednesday.

“I want to be really clear (NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie) as a medical professional respects the right of this person not to divulge that information.

“I don’t respect that. I would like to know his vaccination status.”

Mr Gunner said it would help authorities understand how and where the man contracted the virus, which could impact policies about movement through COVID-19 hotspots and airports.

He said it was also an example of why people should potentially be compelled to declare if they’re vaccinated in some instances.

“Whether we can mandate it for access to the Territory or not, that’s something as a nation we’re working through what we can legally do,” he said.

The infected man arrived at Darwin Airport on a Qantas flight just before midnight on Thursday and travelled to the Hilton Hotel by taxi.

He returned a positive result on Sunday after mandatory testing at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Genomic testing is yet to confirm the man has the Delta variant but his NT test shows traces of the strain.

He had earlier returned a negative COVID-19 test on August 10 during his 14-day stay in a Sydney quarantine hotel.

Authorities don’t know how or where the man caught COVID-19 but Dr Heggie says test results show he hadn’t been infected long and it was “less likely” he caught the virus in NSW.

Investigators continue to track the man’s movements after he left the Sydney hotel and flew via Canberra to Darwin, where he spent three days before heading south.

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