Utopia region in remote NT battles COVID-19 amid floods, no phone service

The chief executives of two outback Central Australian clinics say they are in an "absolutely dire" situation as the neighbouring Indigenous communities battle COVID-19 outbreaks with dwindling supplies, skeleton staff, flooded roadways — and no phone service. Key points: Two Central Australian clinics have been without a phone service and road access for a week The clinics say they need resources to manage a COVID-19 outbreak Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the government wouldn't leave the communities without resources Utopia and Ampilatwatja, 350 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs, have been without road access and a reliable landline or mobile phone service for more than a week following heavy rain. However, in Ampilatwatja, chief executiev Riek Luak said the clinic's job had become "extremely difficult" because of flooded roadways, poor telecommunications and an unusable, flooded air strip. Community nervous Mr Luak said he had contacted NT Health for supplies and support but no-one had "reached out" until Friday, when he was contacted by local police. At the start of Utopia's outbreak, the government evacuated three patients, but since then no further aircraft had arrived, even to drop off supplies, despite "repeated" promises, Mr Cram said.