Eight new COVID-19 infections in Northern Territory

The Northern Territory has recorded eight new cases of COVID-19.

They are all Aboriginal people, including three in Katherine and five in the remote Indigenous community of Robinson River. All are close contacts of previously identified cases.

This takes the current Katherine-Robinson River cluster to 19 infections amid a lockdown for both regions.

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Michael Gunner

Health authorities still don't have an established link between the first cluster in the Territory earlier this month and the current one.

"This [a link] remains the most likely explanation but we will keep investigating," NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.

"The genomic result is due tomorrow."

Among the new cases is a 36-year-old man from Katherine, who was a household contact with previous cases.

He was already in a supervised quarantine facility, the Centre for National Resilience, but he may have been infectious in the community.

Contact tracers are working to identify if there are any additional exposure sites associated with the man.

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Mr Gunner said authorities don't know the man's vaccination status.

The five cases from Robinson River are all close or household contacts.

They include a 29-year-old man, a 23-year-old man, a 21-year-old woman, a 13-year-old woman and a three-week-old baby.

They have also been flown to the Centre of National Resilience.

"We know how quickly Delta can spread within households and we cannot be sure yet that it hasn't spread further into the Robinson River and Katherine communities, or wider in the Territory," Mr Gunner said.

Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Charles Pain said one case is being treated in hospital. The person requires oxygen but they are not in an intensive care unit.

Dr Pain encouraged residents to get tested and get vaccinated, admitting the Territory's health system is "under pressure already".

"We need your help to prevent those admissions to hospital," Dr Pain said.

"Our system is prone to being overwhelmed if we cannot get people protected."

New exposure sites have been announced, with full details available on the NT Health website.

Health officials also announced an additional precaution as authorities try to get ahead of the new cluster.

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Katherine lockdown

Authorities are asking anyone who has been in Robinson River since November 11 to get tested whether they are symptomatic or not. They must isolate until receiving a negative result.

Health officials are also asking anyone who has been in Katherine since November 7 to do the same thing.

Mr Gunner said there are about 66 close contacts from one of the previously announced exposure sites, Kirby's Pub Katherine Hotel.

However, contact tracers have not been about to effectively capture everyone due to illegible handwriting on check-in lists.

Mr Gunner said contact tracers now have to spend additional time contacting the business and reviewing CCTV.

He emphasised the importance of checking into venues and correctly filling out sign-in sheets.

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Eight new COVID-19 infections in Northern Territory
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