NT records three new local cases of COVID-19 linked to Katherine cluster, as remote community of Lajamanu enters lockdown

The Northern Territory has recorded three local COVID-19 cases in 24 hours related to the Katherine cluster. Key points: Four new COVID cases — three local and one from an international repatriation flight — have been recorded in the NT The Lajamanu remote community has gone into lockdown after wastewater samples tested positive for COVID Genomic sequencing to determine if a South African traveller has the Omicron variant is yet to come back The new cases are in a man in his 40s from Katherine, a woman in her 20s from Robinson River and a boy under 10 years old from Robinson River. Mr Gunner said because the three local cases had tested positive late in their 14-day quarantine periods, there was a chance they had caught the virus while in Howard Springs as a result of "family mingling". Mr Gunner said a rapid assessment team had arrived in Lajamanu late last night to test, vaccinate and otherwise support the community, and Katherine West Health Board staff were also assisting. Test results still pending for COVID- positive South African traveller Acting Chief Health Officer Charles Pain said authorities were still waiting on the test results of a COVID-positive repatriation flight traveller from South Africa who arrived in the NT on Thursday, to see if the man was carrying the new Omicron variant of concern.