COVID-19 vaccine now required for all Groote workers

See the attachment for full details

The NT Chief Health Officer (CHO) requires that all workers in various NT workplaces must be vaccinated. This ruling applies to all people working on Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island.

Some exceptions exist but only for very limited medical reasons, with evidence.

Notes:

• First dose of the COVID-19 vaccine must be by 12 November 2021
• Two doses (fully vaccinated) by 24 December 2021.
• If workers have not had their first vaccination by the 13 November 2021, they will not be permitted to enter the workplace and will face a $5000 fine if they do not comply with the Chief Health Officer direction.
• Workplaces can request proof of vaccination from staff, and workplaces must to keep a register of staff vaccination rates.

COVID VACCINATION

Pfizer vaccine now available for everyone 12 years and older

For Appointment / Bookings:

Alyangula Health Centre

Phone 8987 6255

Vaccination rates for Angurugu and Milyakburra, including all eligible 12 years upwards, as at 29th Sept 2021

Message from Angurugu Clinic manager:
“We will continue to vaccinate every day however the biggest day is Thursday, including vaccination in the Angurugu supermarket.”

COVID Vaccination available in Angurugu Supermarket

The Angurugu Clinic is providing free walk-in vaccination at the Angurugu Supermarket on Thursdays.

If you need a first or second vaccination, visit the friendly Clinic staff at the Angurugu Supermarket on Thursday, or call (08) 8987 6317.

In the photo: Joanne Friday got her vaccination in the Supermarket on Thursday 23rd September - here is Joanne with her family. Click for a larger photo.

Vaccination rates for Warnumamalya population centres, people over 16 years, as at 10th Sept 2021

Message from Angurugu Clinic manager:
“Vaccination rates on Groote are remarkably good, so we should feel proud.
We are now offering vaccines every day plus a full day on a Thursday.”

The ALC Board held an important meeting to discuss the ways in which it could increase vaccination rates amongst traditional owners. The vaccination is considered the best defence in keeping the community safe from COVID-19, particularly with the highly contagious Delta variant spreading across Australia.

The Board resolved to offer $500 payments to all eligible traditional owners on the royalties list who have been fully vaccinated (two doses), or who go and get fully vaccinated (two doses).

Anyone who has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should contact the ALC Community Support office [Angurugu 08 8987 6408, Umbakumba 08 8987 6421, Milyakburra 08 8987 7118] to book in their vaccination.

See the ALC web page for details.

Lockdowns in Darwin and Katherine have both been lifted (Darwin was lifted on 19/8, Katherine on 20/8), Some retrictions remain. For details see the notice attachment or https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/stay-safe/covid-19-lockdown-restrictions-in-place.

Darwin & Katherine lockdown

From 12:01pm today (16/8/2021) for 72 hours, Darwin and surrounbding areas, and Katherine, are in lockdown due to a local COVID-19 case.

Residents can only leave home for these reasons:

1. Medical treatment, including COVID testing or vaccination
2. For essential goods and services, like groceries and medications
3. For work that is considered essential
4. For one hour of outdoor exercise a day within 5 km from your home with one other person or people from your house
5. To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support them

For further details, see the notice attachment.

For lockdown details, see https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/stay-safe/covid-19-lockdown-restrictions-in-place.

For Exposure site details, see https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/stay-safe/case-location-alerts-and-public-exposure-sites.

[from Tanya Woodcock, Alyangula Police, 12th August 2021]

Good morning all, please note that travel is allowed from all of QLD again, however a BORDER ARRIVAL FORM must be completed by all interstate travellers: https://forms.nt.gov.au/Produce/Form/COVID19/Northern%20Territory%20Border%20Entry%20Application.

Outcomes of our operation to isolate and test all QLD arrivals in the week prior to 8th August are:

• 267 people tested onsite at GEMCO
  • 2 visited exposure sites
• 91 people tested by the local health team (across Alyangula, Angurugu,
  • 20 Aboriginal people tested via POCT- all negative
• All specimens processed by 1400 following day - ALL NEGATIVE
• All specimens processed by POCT in the community NEGATIVE

Congratulations to the Top End Health Service team, GEMCO, and all service providers who participated in our response and the LEC meetings.

Arising from the debrief with the emergency management team, I have two points of concern to feed back to relevant agencies and staff:

• Green zones must be identified for clearing of all local staff when the Rapid Assessment Team (RAT) or other external responders are arriving (Police/Health/GEMCO). Due to Delta variant virulence we need heightened attention to prevention of potential exposure to the ‘clean’ teams/staff.
• MEG (Mask Eyes Gloves) should be worn by local staff at all times when in the presence of RAT or external workers.

From 4pm Wednesday 11 August the Cairns and Yarrabah Local Government Areas lockdown will end. Some restrictions will remain.

ALC Cairns staff can return to the Cairns office from tomorrow. Please be Covid-safe; wash your hands, cover your sneezes/coughs, and practice social distancing.

Further details can be found at this link: Restrictions for Locked Down Areas – Cairns and Yarrabah | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

Also please visit the NT Coronavirus link : Coronavirus (COVID-19)

[Update 12th August] As these areas are no longer current declared hotspots, people who arrive in to the NT from these areas after this date do not need to complete an Application for Approval to enter the NT form, however all interstate arrivals are still required to complete a Border Entry Form.

[NOTE: If you have been in any hotspot in the past 14 days, you cannot enter the NT unless eligible for an exception - see this page for the NT regulations and this page for details of the former Cairns hotspots].

[from Groote Eylandt Police, 9th August 2021]

GROOTE EYLANDT community advice - COVID.

A Taxi driver in Cairns tested positive for COVID, and as a result Cairns has also been declared a Hot Spot.

ANYONE WHO'S ARRIVED ON GROOTE FROM CAIRNS SINCE 29TH JULY (Thursday two weeks ago) MUST STAY AT HOME UNTIL THEY'VE BEEN TESTED FOR COVID.

For anyone who's flown from Cairns to Groote via Darwin or elsewhere (that is, not on a direct flight) - please contact Alyangula Health Clinic to give your details: 89876255. After testing, if the result is ‘negative’ (no virus detected) there is no need to isolate or restrict any movements.

There is a team of health workers arriving on Groote this morning, who will contact and arrange testing for all people who‘ve travelled from Cairns to Groote on any flights. They will be seen in our townships in the blue protection clothes and masks, attending houses to test travellers. Please reassure your friends and family that this does not mean we have COVID on Groote.

This testing is precautionary only. There is NO information that anyone on Groote has been infected with COVID, or has been in contact with an infected person. There is no need for lockdowns or the closure of any facilities on Groote.

For more information please check out the link: https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/travel/quarantine

Senior Sergeant Tanya Woodcock Officer In Charge | Carpentaria District | Northern Territory Police Force Groote Eylandt PO Box 397, Alyangula, NT, 0885 p...(08) 8987 6122 / Internal - 58726 I f...(08) 8987 6403 | e... tanya.woodcock@pfes.nt.gov.au.

The 2nd Vaccination roll out in Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra will take place next week 19-22 July.

Those that received vaccinations in the first round are now due for their second vaccinations, and must receive these this round to fall within the window of opportunity.

Community who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to come along to receive their first vaccinations this round. There will be a third roll out in a further 3 weeks – dates yet to be confirmed.

Vaccinations will take place:

• Angurugu Clinic - Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st
• Umbakumba Clinic – Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th
• Bickerton Clinic – Thursday 22nd

Buses will run in both Angurugu and Umbakumba.

The CSP will provide Hot Dogs and Goody Bags to those vaccinated!

For full details, see the attachment.