Alice Springs to go into lockdown for three days over airport Covid scare
Alice Springs #AliceSprings
Alice Springs will enter a three-day lockdown after a miner who has tested positive to Covid transited through the town’s airport.
The man spent seven hours at the airport, mainly in the cafe and bathrooms.
“This (lockdown) relates to a man from the Tanami mine site who spent an extended period of time at Alice Springs airport on Friday 25 June,” NT chief minister Michael Gunner said.
He travelled to Adelaide on June 26 and returned a negative Covid test but his wife and three of his four children have since tested positive, the chief minister said.
South Australian authorities later confirmed follow up testing revealed the miner was in fact Covid-positive. It is unclear why his initial test was negative.
The lockdown will last 72 hours and begin at 1pm local time today.
While there were no new cases in the last 24 hours in the territory, Mr Gunner said the miner has put the community of Alice Springs on alert.
“We believe that he is highly infectious,” he said.
“It is unlikely that he was highly infectious during his time at Alice Springs airport. But, like all other decisions, we will not take a punt on this.”
The lockdown direction applies to everyone inside the Alice Springs town council boundaries, that includes town camps which rely on the town for groceries and medicine.
“Do not panic. You will get your food. You will get your medicine,” Mr Gunner said.
Anyone in the lockdown area must stay home unless they need medical treatment, a Covid test or vaccination, for essential goods and services, for an hour of exercise or to provide care.
Masks are now mandatory in the area.
Alice Springs airport has been listed as an exposure site for between 9am and 4pm on June 25.
“Do not get tested yet. Wait for us to tell you which category you are in. This allows us to prioritise the higher risk testing,” he said, before urging residents to stay home.
“Right now, we believe people who spent time at the departure side of the airport are considered as close contacts.”
The family that tested positive has been isolating in South Australia since Saturday.
More to come