Two new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Northern Territory – the wife and daughter of a 64-year-old infected Palmerston mine worker – as the state extends its Greater Darwin lockdown until 1pm on Friday.
NT Chief Minister, Michael Gunner said all residents of Greater Darwin would be required to stay in their home or accommodation during this time and wear masks when leaving home for essential shopping, work or exercise.
The Chief Minister today announced a list of public exposure sites that the infected miner’s wife and daughter visited while potentially infectious, including a Zumba exercise class, a number of shopping locations and a flea market.
Contact tracers have notified around 25 people who took part in a Zumba class at 9am on June 26 in a pop-up tent at Palmerston Recreation Centre – all have been told to self-isolate immediately and get tested for COVID-19.
Anyone who visited Palmerston flea market on June 26 between 7.45am – 8.45am, and 9.30am and 9.45am should also get tested and isolate until they return a negative test.
A number of stores within Gateway Shopping Centre have been identified as casual contact sites of the confirmed cases. Anyone who attended the following shops between 11am and 2pm on June 26 is required to self-isolate and get tested until a negative result is returned:
- Rockmans’s clothing store
- Big W
- Hoskings Jewellers
- Woolworths
- Pharmacy 4 Less Gateway
- Gateway Shopping Centre Underground Carpark.
On Sunday Mr Gunner announced a Territory Small Business Lockdown Payment for businesses affected by the COVID-19 lockdown in the Top End.
This includes businesses that are located in the areas of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield Council areas, and Wagait and Belyuen Shires, currently impacted by the 48 hour lockdown.
“We will always do whatever it takes to keep Territorians safe. That’s why we need this lockdown – to pause everything while we get on top of the outbreak,” said Mr Gunner.
“This lockdown is necessary, but I know it hurts as well. It is going to be especially hard for our small business owners who have had to shut down to help keep the rest of us safe.
“That’s why we are opening up a new support payment for affected Top End businesses – the Territory Business Lockdown Payment.”
The program is open to Northern Territory small businesses, not-for-profits or incorporated associations which are based in these areas, and the application process will be simple, easy and involve a declaration on behalf of the applicant.
The Territory Business Lockdown Payment is a one-off payment of $1000, designed to support small businesses that have either ceased trading or suffered a revenue loss of 50% or greater during the lockdown.
Eligible small businesses are those with a turnover of less than $10 million and less than 20 full-time-equivalent staff, and who have had to stop trading, or suffered a 50 per cent drop in turnover during lockdown. The payment will help cover ongoing costs.
Terms and Conditions for the Territory Business Lockdown Payment are available at https://businessrecovery.nt.gov.au/.
