Darwin man brings virus home from Vic hotspot

Health Minister Natasha Fyles

A Darwin man in his thirties has been hospitalised after being diagnosed with COVID19 following arrival from a suburban “hotspot” in Melbourne.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles moved quickly to assure the public that the man’s illness was unlikely to spread to other Territorians. She told a media conference in Darwin the man had acted responsibly after arriving in Darwin. when he gone straight home and subsequently informed authorities when he developed symptoms.

 She said the man had undergone two weeks quarantine in Melbourne after arriving from overseas, but had then stayed with family in one of the areas of Melbourne which has seen a spike in COVID19 cases.

Ms Fyles has referred to the spike as part of “the new normal” as the NT Government continues to resist pressure from Aboriginal organisations and the Australian Medical Association to abandon its plan to reopen NT borders on 17th July.

Instead the Government has announced it will require anyone coming from a declared “hotspot” anywhere in Australia to be quarantined at their own expense for two weeks.

Territory media have this week reported claims that some interest visitors arriving by road already appear to be flouting the current rules, which require them to self-isolate for 14 days within 48 hours of arriving in the NT.

The manager of a Tennant Creek Caravan Park told ABC Alice Springs that she had had some guests who had left after staying only four days in the park. Another business owner claimed she had been told by NT authorities she was understood to have five interstate guests who were subject to the restrictions — but in fact had none.

Ms Fyles said it was “disappointing” to hear that visitors were breaking the rules, but said they would face consequences if they were caught.

“If we go to check on them and they’re not there they will face a fine,” she said.

A former Australian Medical Association president says the NT Government’s plan to prevent the spread of COVID19 after borders reopen by restricting visitors from declared hotspots “doesn’t go far enough” to prevent a possible health catastrophe.

Territory-based paediatrician Dr Paul Bauer said the influx of Aboriginal people into urban centres such as Katherine and Darwin after the easing of restrictions last month illustrated the danger that  virus carriers from interstate posed as  they travelled through the NT.