Another remote indigenous NT community has gone into lockdown

TOTT News

2 years ago

— BREAKING —

The Lajamanu community and surrounding homelands has entered an immediate lockdown on Saturday evening, after wastewater testing ‘returned positive results to authorities’.

Lajamanu, southwest of Katherine, will enter into a lockdown immediately until 6pm on 11 December 2021, following these findings just hours ago. The news was broken by NT Health:

Anyone who has been in the Lajamanu community or the surrounding homelands since the 15 November 2021 is required to immediately self-isolate, get tested for COVID-19 and remain in isolation until a negative test is returned.

At the 2006 census, Lajamanu had a population of 669, of which 92 percent are of Aboriginal origin.

The town is a strongly traditional community, and is governed by the Central Land Council as well as the Kuridji law and justice group. The Lajamanu Council was formed in 1980, and was the first community government council to be formed in the Northern Territory.

On cultural matters, the council defers to the local tribal council, because traditional customs are still practised and generally dominate the thinking of the community.

Lockdown restrictions mean that residents must stay at home for the lockdown period and people are only permitted to leave for the following five reasons:

Medical treatment, including COVID testing or vaccination.
For essential goods and services, like groceries and medications. Only one household member should visit the store, once per day.
For work that is considered essential.
For one hour of outdoor exercise a day within 5 km from your home with one other person or people from your house.
To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves. In case of an emergency.

According to NT Health’s website, “a Rapid Assessment Team has been dispatched to manage the response, undertake COVID-19 testing and provide COVID-19 vaccinations”.

Authorities say “significant work will be undertaken overnight and more updates on the evolving COVID-19 situation in Lajamanu will be provided in the morning”.

We await Michael Gunner’s press conference this morning.

Please check back to this article as we follow this story.