November 24, 2021

Australian Defence Force personnel are lending a helping hand in the battle to control COVID-19 outbreak among the Northern Territory’s Indigenous community.

It has grown to 40 infections after a three people were diagnosed on Tuesday, including a baby boy from the Robinson River remote Aboriginal community, about 1000km southeast of Darwin.

Wastewater testing indicates there could be many more cases 800km away in and around the town of Katherine, where the virus has spread to the Binjari Aboriginal community.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner is expected to update the public later on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the ADF has lent more personnel to the NT’s COVID-19 fighting efforts, with a 125 members now helping to stop the spread of the virus.

About 20 ADF personnel have been brought to Katherine, 320km south of Darwin, to support a testing and vaccination blitz.

They’re assisting health workers transport members of the Indigenous community to and from testing clinics.

Another 40 military personnel are also helping deliver food to vulnerable Indigenous communities under extreme lockdowns that prevent them from leaving their homes to buy food.

The ADF is also manning three vehicle checkpoints around Katherine, with 20 members assisting police at the Tindal, Edith Falls and Binjari turn-offs.

“We’re very appreciative of the support and it will certainly make our ability to respond more broadly to ensuring people are compliant in the Katherine area,” Police Commissioner and Territory Controller Jamie Chalker has said

Greater Katherine remains locked down, with authorities saying it’s likely to have some form of lockdown or lockout until December 4.

That may be lifted once it reaches the 80 per cent fully vaccinated rate.

The town’s current first dose rate is 83 per cent, with 77 per cent of people fully vaccinated.

The outbreak started when an infected woman 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 contracted the virus.

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

The majority of those infected are Indigenous Territorians.

Binjari, 330km south of Darwin, and Rockhole remain under extreme lockdown orders.

The communities’ 300 residents are only allowed to leave their homes in an emergency or for medical treatment.

All residents in the two communities have now had at least one jab.

Restrictions have eased at Robinson River, 1000km southeast of Darwin, in recent days, with the lockdown downgraded to a lockout of unvaccinated people.