Wastewater samples for COVID-19 testing in the NT will no longer be sent to South Australia for analysis, after a team of microbiologists at Charles Darwin University recently started carrying out the tests in Darwin.
‘Extraordinary, and unnecessary, overreach’: Gunner Government to give CHO two-year special powers
The Gunner Government has announced it will introduce a bill giving the chief health officer extraordinary power to make laws in a pandemic for two years following the end of a public health emergency declaration period, taking the end of COVID-19 control measures close to the next election.
Chief Minister latest pollie caught with his mask down for photo op, Victorian pollies fined for same act
Chief Minister Michael Gunner removed his mask for an indoor political photo opportunity while holding his arm around an elderly woman, in the latest example of NT politicians posing for pictures that appear to contravene the chief health officer’s COVID-19 directions, and follows Victorian politicians being fined by police for doing the same thing.
Fears COVID ‘public health emergency’ could be extended for years with no evidence: Opposition
Chief Minister Michael Gunner is expected to extend the public health emergency declaration for another 90 days later this month – and the extraordinary powers that come with it – without needing to prove there is a current ‘serious’ public health emergency, a move the Opposition says could continue unchecked for another few years.
Mask mandate to lift on Monday, check-in app use reduced
The NT’s indoor mask mandate in most places will be lifted on Monday, the Chief Minister has declared, with the check-in app only to be used at venues that require proof of vaccination from today.
Mask mandate and check-in app restrictions to ease, but no firm date provided
Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the mask mandate will end “sooner rather than later” but gave no firm timeline, a position the Opposition attacked as failing to provide certainty for Territorians.
Howard Springs quarantine staff told facility future undecided, current contracts end June 30: sources
Staff at the Howard Springs COVID-19 quarantine facility are in limbo over their jobs, following an all-in meeting regarding the future of the facility last week, which sources said is still up in the air come June 30 – the same date contracts will expire – while the government has already cancelled major tenders for the facility this year.
NT Government to remove border entry requirements, no quarantine for the un-vaccinated
The Gunner Government has ended all COVID-19 border controls including allowing all un-vaccinated people into the Northern Territory with no quarantining, the chief health officer Dr Hugh Heggie has said.
NT Govt to spend a whopping $130m on Rapid Antigen Tests: Public tender documents
UPDATED: The Gunner Government will spend up to $130 million for the supply and delivery of Rapid Antigen Tests over the next 12 months, according to a public tender released on Monday, which could see it provided with 100 million RAT kits.
Gunner announces booster shot mandate for Territory workers
Double-vaccinated Territory workers will now be required to get a third “booster” jab of the COVID-19 vaccine, Chief Minister Michael Gunner has declared, under new Chief Health Officer directions.
NT Govt’s back to school COVID plan revealed: Here’s what you need to know
Government school staff will “have access to” three rapid antigen tests a week, all government school air-conditioning systems will undergo audits and students from Year 3 will be “strongly encouraged” to wear masks, as part of the NT Government’s back to school plan amid rising daily COVID-19 cases across the NT.
Territory check-in app failure: Govt admits people not informed of exposure sites
UPDATED: Chief Minister Michael Gunner has blamed a single public servant for the government’s failure to notify Territorians they had been at exposure sites through the Territory check-in app and has moved the employee back to the public service instead of sacking them.