16 August 2021
Queensland Health will declare Greater Darwin and the Katherine region COVID-19 hotspots, after a man in his 30s tested positive for COVID-19 and spent time in the community while infectious.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the positive case meant there was a need to take action.
From 1am Wednesday 18 August, the Greater Darwin and Katherine regions will be declared as hotspots and anyone arriving into Queensland from this time who has been in these areas since 12 August will need to go into hotel quarantine.
Anyone who has already arrived, or arrives in Queensland from the Greater Darwin and Katherine regions before 1am, Wednesday 18 August, should monitor their symptoms and get tested immediately if they experience symptoms.
Restrictions will also apply to the state’s prisons, aged care facilities, disability accommodation services and hospitals.
“From 1am, Wednesday 18 August, anyone who has been in these NT hotspots on or after 12 August cannot enter these facilities, except for end of life visits unless 14 days have passed since they were there,” Dr Young said.
Dr Young said Queensland will continue to monitor the situation.
“Acting quickly matters,” she said.
“We’ve seen how quickly the virus has spread through New South Wales, as well as the growing cluster in Melbourne.
“It’s good to see the Northern Territory government have acted quickly and, hopefully, the snap three-day lockdown will stop the spread,” Dr Young said.
Dr Young reminded anyone who had been to a declared COVID-19 exposure site in the Northern Territory during the risk period must get tested and quarantine.
“Anyone who is planning to visit the Northern Territory, in particular Darwin or Katherine, should reconsider their need to travel.”
Queensland's COVID-19 total is currently 1,955 cases. There are 129 active cases.
There were no new active cases reported today.
For more information, visit https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19.
ENDS