Sixty-six remote Northern Territory communities have been declared exclusion zones and the Australian Defence Force has been deployed to assist struggling townships, as COVID-19 continues to spread in the Top End.
As the birthplace of the land rights movement, Kalkaringi, 600 kms south-west of Darwin, is accustomed to overcoming hardship.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 across NT communities is the latest challenge to confront them.
The community has been placed into lockout restrictions after two new COVID-19 cases from nearby Timber Creek were confirmed overnight.
"Knowing that it’s here now [COVID], it’s a matter of... comforting our people in this community to go about the way they normally do, except restrict (their) movements," said community leader Rob Roy.
The Australian Defence Force has been called in to assist with the COVID response in Kalkaringi and other communities in the region.
Rob Roy says he is focussed on keeping his community safe and calm. Source: Nicole Zicchino
While the role of the military in communities in the Northern Territory is steeped in controversy, Rob Roy says any help is welcomed.
"We need extra people to come and relieve some of the staff that we’ve got on the ground here in the community so we don’t push them to the limit."
On top of lockdowns, the Territory government has imposed further restrictions in the bush - exclusion zones have been declared around 66 remote communities with vaccinations rates lower than 80 per cent.
Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the changes will will come into force on Monday when the Territory opens its borders.
"From Monday, when home quarantine ends, arrivals to the territory must not travel to these identified exclusion zones within their first 14 days of entering the territory," she said.
Restrictions will remain while COVID cases continue to increase and vaccination rates remain low. Source: Nicole Zicchino
Essential workers and their families, and returning residents will be exempt after undergoing a PCR test, but must wear a mask for their first seven days in the community.
Ms Manison warned against complacency.
"We have made these changes to help people but that means you need to hold up your end of the bargain and do the right thing to keep the community safe and the territory safe."
The Northern Territory has recorded eleven new COVID cases, bringing the total number to 94.
