The Northern Territory has ushered in sweeping border rule changes as authorities work to get COVID-19 outbreak among the Indigenous community under control.

November 22, 2021

Most unvaccinated travellers are now barred from entering the Northern Territory as authorities nervously wait to learn if a COVID-19 outbreak has spread to another Indigenous community.

No new cases have been detected in the past 24 hours, but Chief Minister Michael Gunner has warned more are likely.

The Aboriginal community of Binjari, about 330km south of Darwin, entered an extreme lockdown late on Saturday after nine residents were diagnosed with the virus.

It brought the current cluster to 35 cases, with the lockdown extended to the neighbouring community of Rockhole due to its close ties with the people of Binjari.

The nearby town of Katherine and the Aboriginal community of Robinson River, 800km to the east, also remain locked down. That’s scheduled to end at 6pm on Monday. However, Mr Gunner has said it could be extended for several more weeks if the situation deteriorates.

He’s expected to provide an update later on Monday.

Residents in the districts surrounding Binjari and Katherine have been ordered to wear face masks in most public place.

The Australian Defence Force has also been called in to help transfer positive cases and close contacts to the Centre of National Resilience at Howard Springs, just south of Darwin.

The outbreak was triggered by an infected woman who illegally entered the NT in late October.

The 21-year-old lied on her border entry form before travelling from Cairns to Darwin after visiting Victoria, where she had contracted the virus.

She infected a man in Darwin before the virus spread to Katherine, then Robinson River and Binjari.

Unlike a normal lockdown, residents in Binjari can only leave their homes in an emergency or for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated travellers will no longer be able to enter the NT from Monday, under sweeping changes to the territory’s border rules.

The only exception will be essential personnel, some compassionate grounds and Territorians returning from jurisdictions where COVID is not present, called green zones.

These approved arrivals will be required to test and isolate on arrival.

Fully vaccinated arrivals from red zones where the virus is present will be able to quarantine at home for seven days.

But they’ll need to have a rapid antigen test upon arrival in the NT and return a negative PCR test within 72 hours.

They’ll also have to get re-tested five, eight and 14 days after leaving quarantine and stay in a high vaccination zone away from aged care facilities and remote communities.

The home quarantine requirement is scheduled to end on December 20 with rapid antigen testing extended to all arrivals.

The population of Binjari is about 190 and many homes are overcrowded.

About 100 people live in nearby Rockhole and approximately 6000 people live in Katherine.

There are about 350 residents in Robinson River, which is about 1000km southeast of Darwin.