Some of Central Australia’s most influential Aboriginal groups have written an open letter to the NT Chief Minister demanding an immediate lockdown of the region. CameronGooley COVID19 centralaustralia NT lockdown
The NT government has shortened the time people must wait before receiving a COVID-19 vacine booster and introduced a third dose mandate for workers, as some of Central Australia’s most influential Aboriginal organisations released a scathing open letter demanding a lockdown in the region.
The announcement comes after an open letter from the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress , an Alice Springs-based health body, accused the NT government of failing to implement plans that were agreed to before the outbreak and causing the virus to spread out of control in Indigenous communities. "This was in contravention of all agreed plans to remove positive cases immediately from households where they were unable to safely self-isolate."
The open letter urged the NT government to immediately lock down all of Central Australia, distribute rapid antigen tests, stand up a rapid response team in the region to test and vaccinate people, and to ask the federal government and Defence Force for assistance.Mr Gunner said he understood why the groups wanted a lockdown but said it wouldn’t be effective.