CANBERRA, Dec 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Thousands of people in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) have been asked to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19.
Natasha Fyles, NT’s Health Minister, urged more than 3,800 people, who travelled to the NT from Sydney since Dec 11, to get tested immediately, in response to a COVID-19 outbreak in the city.
New South Wales (NSW), of which Sydney is the capital, recorded eight locally acquired cases today, and an additional 10 cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
“Investigations continue into the source of the Avalon cluster, which now numbers 90,” a statement from NSW Health said today.
NT closed its borders to the Sydney area on Sunday afternoon, and Fyles said that NT’s testing capacity has been increased in response to the outbreak.
“We know that this is extremely upsetting, this is difficult and it being so close to Christmas adds to that burden,” Fyles said, according to News Corp Australia.
“We will of course work with individuals around their circumstances, upholding those health directions and principles, to make it as easy as possible.”
NT had the most success, preventing the spread of COVID-19, out of any of Australia’s eight states and territories.
As of yesterday afternoon, NT had 71 confirmed cases, and is the only state or territory with no death from COVID-19.– NNN-AGENCIES