The virus has for the first time reached a vulnerable, remote Northern Territory community, sparking a 72-hour lockdown.
Covid has reached a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory for the first time since the pandemic began, prompting a three day lockdown.
A fully vaccinated Aboriginal man from Katherine East tested positive to the virus, authorities said late on Monday.
The 43-year-old also spends time in the Robinson River remote community.
A household contact of the man, a 30-year-old Aboriginal woman who is a resident of that community, has also tested positive.
“This is undoubtedly the most serious update I’ve had to give you since the start of the pandemic because it involves a case in a remote community,” Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.
“But we are very prepared for this.”
Mr Gunner said the lack of a clear link between these cases and the Darwin-Katherine cluster had prompted him to announce a lockdown.
From 6pm, a 72-hour lockdown will apply to the Greater Katherine area and people may only leave home for essential reasons.
These latest cases bring the number of active cases in the NT to six.
Originally published as Covid reaches remote Aboriginal community in Northern Territory for first time, lockdown enforced