Cases update

There have been 11 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Groote Archipelago in the 24 hours to 8pm on 17 January 2022. The total number of Active Cases is 24.

18 of the Active Cases are being supported by GEMCO under the direction of the CDC and 6 are isolating at home or being supported to isolate by their employer in Alyangula. Contact tracing has been completed for all cases and all contacts are isolating. There is currently no evidence of community transmission on Groote Eylandt.

The Chief Minister and Cabinet’s office will provide daily updates on new cases, total Active Cases and on the status of the vaccination rollout.

Vaccination update

The Groote populations have high rates of vaccination:

Double vaccination rates for age 16 years and over:

• Alyangula – 95%
• Umbakumba – 95%
• Angurugu – 92%
• Milyakburra – 91%
• TOTAL – 93%

Double vaccination rates for age 12 to 15:

• Alyangula – 83%
• Umbakumba – 61%
• Angurugu – 72%
• Milyakburra – 50%
• TOTAL – 72%

See the notice attachment for further information, including:

• Vaccination for 5 to 11 year old children started on 17 January 2022
• Booster (third) vaccinations are now available from all the clinics
• Reporting Rapid Antigen (RAT) tests
• Mask mandate - masks must generally be worn indoors
• See notice attachment for full details

Cases of COVID on Groote

There have now been a total of 21 positive cases of COVID-19 on Groote Eylandt. All cases are isolating at home or being supported to isolate by their employer. There is currently no evidence of community transmission on Groote Eylandt.

Vaccine rollout for 5-11-year old children

Children aged 5-11 years will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine from 17th January 2022.

Vaccination options:

• Home visits by Health Clinic staff for Umbakumba and Angurugu communities
• Walk-ins are welcome at Umbakumba and Angurugu Health Clinics
• Bookings can be made at the Alyangula Health Clinic - 8987 6255
• Child Health Nurses will be vaccinating children at Angurugu School at the commencement of Term 1
• ALC will host BBQs and Hotdog days to support the chilren’s vaccination roll-out
• NOTE: A parent or legal guardian will be asked to provide consent prior to each child being vaccinated.

See also the notice attachment for updates and details about Rapid Antigen Tests, Masks and who needs to isolate.

Angurugu is no longer in an exclusion zone. No additional conditions apply to entering or leaving (but see this page for all NT COVID-19 information and this page for information about Lockouts, Mask mandate, and Exposure sites).

There is a new “Vaccine Pass” system now applying across the whole of the NT. You have to show proof of vaccination when visiting these venues:

• Pubs and clubs
• Casinos
• Restaurants
• Cinemas and theatres
• Ticketed events for more than 500 people in urban centres or more than 100 people in non-urban centres.
• If you are not fully vaccinated you cannot visit these venues (but you can use take-away services).

You may be asked to show proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status when checking in to these venues. If you are over 16 years old you should carry proof of your vaccination status and be prepared to show it if asked. Proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status includes:

• The Territory Check-In App with a linked COVID-19 digital certificate (instructions to do this are available here)
• A COVID-19 digital certificate, stored on a phone or printed
• An immunisation history statement, either stored on a phone or printed

For further information, see the NT Government website for information about proof of vaccination.

Several changed restrictions were announced on 6th January 2022. The main points are:

• A “lockout” applies to the whole of NT. Unvaccinated people must stay at home except for medical treatment, getting essential supplies, or to provide essential care. See this page for details.
• The rules about entry to exclusion zones now apply to all people in NT. Angurugu is an exclusion zone. See below for details.
• The previously announced mask mandate continues - for the whole of NT, people must wear masks except in their home or when they can keep more than 1.5 metres form other people. See this page for details

Exclusion zones (includes Angurugu)

• only residents and essential workers can enter an exclusion zone
• before entering an exclusion zone, any person has to take a Rapid Antigen (RAT) test

Exclusion zone map: the map of exclusion zones

Exclusion zones document 1 (rules): https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/1080523/CHO-Directions-No-3-of-2022-Directions-for-Exclusion-Zones.pdf

Exclusion zone document 2 (locations): https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1080524/Determination-of-Exclusion-Zones-under-Border-Directions-6-Jan-22.pdf

For further information, see the notice attachments and the links above.

For people coming to or returning to the NT from interstate, the rules have changed from 4th January 2022.

See the notice attachments and links below for details. The main changes are:

• You do not need to get a COVID-19 PCR test before arriving in the NT
• You must take a RAT (Rapid Antigen Test) on arrival in the NT and then another one on day 3 and again on day 6 after return. Test kits will be supplied to travellers when they enter the NT.
• You must complete online forms to declare that you have taken the RAT tests
• There are restrictions on entering the listed exclusions zones for 14 days after entering the NT. Residents of a zone can enter it, but they must wear a mask when outside their home. Currently, Angurugu is on the list of exclusion zones.
• Different rules apply to unvaccinated people who want to enter the NT; see https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/border-entry#enter
• There might be additional steps required by airlines and workplaces.

For further information see the notice attachments and:

• NT Government border entry page https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/border-entry
• Online test declaration forms
• List of exclusion zones https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/exclusion-zones#centres

On Wednesday 29th December a GEMCO worker on Groote Eylandt tested positive for COVID-19. The worker arrived by plane from Cairns on Tuesday 28th December. The worker had followed NT Border Entry and GEMCO COVID requirements.

The worker has been flown to Howard Springs, and close contacts have been isolated.

On Thursday 30th December, Gemco has mandated all its workers to wear masks when in indoor workplaces, vehicles etc..

For further details, see the notice attachment

Changes in COVID testing have been announced. These affect all people coming from interstate into the NT and to Groote

• Arriving into the NT: all travellers from interstate, including infants, toddlers and babies need to present a negative PCR test at check-in for your flight and on arrival into the NT.
• Arriving to Groote Eylandt: all travellers from interstate arriving on Groote will be provided with 2 Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) per traveller and must self-test on day 3 and day 6 after arrival. (PCR tests are not required.)
• If your Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is *positive*, you must inform your local clinic (Angurugu 08 8987 6317 or 08 8987 6311; Umbakumba 08 8987 6772; Alyangula 08 8987 6255).

All people returning to NT from interstate:

• you must take a COVID test 3 days before arriving in NT
• you can come to Darwin and then go straight to Groote (you don't have to stay in Darwin)
• you must take more COVID tests 3 days and 6 days after arriving in NT. You can go to any Groote clinic (Umbakumba, Angurugu, Alyangula) for these tests

For Angurugu only:

• if you live in Angurugu you can go home, also you must do all the COVID tests, and for 7 days you must wear a mask when outside your house
• if your home is not in Angurugu, you must not go to Angurugu for 14 days after you arrive from interstate

For more information, details and updates, see the attachment notice, and:

• AnindilyakwaSafe website (here!): http://bit.do/asafe, or https://www.anindilyakwasafe.net
• NT Government border rules: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/border-entry-to-the-nt-from-20-december-2021
• List of exclusion zones (currently includes Angurugu): https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/border-entry-to-the-nt-from-20-december-2021/exclusion-zones

The ALC’s emergency response to the COVID-19 situation in Katherine and surrounds has remained in place since 18 November 2021. These measures were enacted to ensure that the COVID-19 virus did not reach the Groote Archipelago.

The ALC Board again wishes to acknowledge GEMCO, Airnorth, Sealink and all charter companies for their significant cooperation and support during this period. The ALC Board will continue to monitor the situation in Katherine, Binjari and Lajamanu, however it is comfortable that the risk of the current COVID-19 outbreaks reaching the Groote Archipelago is sufficiently low to justify resuming flights and ferry services as normal with immediate effect.

This includes the resumption of charter flights to and from the mainland, and no testing requirement at Darwin Airport for persons travelling to Groote Eylandt.

All travellers are still required to comply with the CHO directions, and the Board strongly recommends that all persons travelling to the Groote Archipelago are fully vaccinated. If you have any questions, please contact RKleinschmidt@alcnt.com.au.

The current travel restrictions on charter flights and ferries between the mainland and Groote Eylandt/Bickerton Island have been extended until 6pm Wednesday 24th November.

In addition all inbound travellers on commercial flights must be fully vaccinated and return a negative rapid antigen test prior to boarding.

For details, see

• the attachment CEO letter
• notice of 19th November (in Anindilyakwa: Groote Archipelago - Emergency COVID-19 lockdown (Anindilyakwa)
• notice of 18th November (Groote Archipelago - Emergency COVID-19 lockdown)