The Northern Territory has reported 352 cases of COVID-19 with 28 people in hospital, including 16 patients with severe symptoms.

January 12, 2022

The daily number of COVID-19 infections reported in the Northern Territory has fallen significantly with 352 new cases recorded.

Wednesday’s figure brings the total number of active cases to about 2700, the equivalent of just over one per cent of the 250,730-strong population.

Twenty-eight of them are in hospital, 16 of whom are classified as acute cases with severe symptoms, including one in intensive care.

That is four fewer patients than Tuesday when 32 people were reported to be in hospital with the virus.

The remote communities of Yuendumu and Yuelamu, about 295km northwest of Alice Springs, remain in lockout until Saturday with another six people testing positive overnight.

It brings the total number of virus infections in low-vaccination Yuendumu to 24, which are all quarantined close contacts.

Meanwhile, a Darwin business that was shut down for failing to comply with COVID-19 health directions had been fined $25,120.

Five people have also been fined $5024 each for breaching health directions at a protest over the order to close the business and by visiting the business after it was shut down.

About 70 people gathered at the business premises on Monday while a territory-wide lockout of unvaccinated people was in place.

It was ordered to close on Friday after investigators found the proprietors and staff had not complied with the vaccination mandate and workers were not wearing masks.

Five others who protested were fined on Tuesday.

NT Police did not specify what the individuals’ breaches were but they are understood to include failure to wear a face mask.

The NT detected 594 new cases on Tuesday, 403 on Monday, 481 on Sunday and 594 on Saturday.

The NT government has been contacted for comment.