Lockdown extended in Nothern Territory's Tennant Creek and Ali Curung
Lockdown has been extended in the remote Northern Territory communities of Tennant Creek and Ali Curung as the territory recorded five new COVID-19 cases.
The lockdown has been extended by 24 hours and will end on Thursday December 23 at 5pm.
"We are very mindful that it is Christmas and a lot of people have a lot of work to do to prepare for Christmas day," Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said.
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The Tennant Creek and Ali Curung lockdowns have been extended. Getty
A mask mandate has also been immediately introduced in Alice Springs for all public indoor settings for the next 48 hours.
"This is in recognition of early movement of recent cases and close contacts while contact tracing is underway," Ms Manison said.
"And acknowledging it will not be possible to socially distance in public indoor settings like shopping centres while people are out getting supplies for Christmas."
A mask mandate in the Barkley local government area has also been extended for another 24 hours.
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The NT has recorded five new COVID-19 cases, both locally acquired and interstate acquired. 9News
It comes as the territory recorded five new cases of COVID-19.
Two men who arrived from Sydney on different flights, Jetstar flight JQ672 and a Qantas flight, both tested positive to the virus.
Three cases have also been linked to the territory's regional cluster.
Ms Manison said the cluster now stands at 125.
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The regional cluster has reached 125 cases. Krystle Wright
A woman in her 50s who was a close contact of previous cases in the Barrow Creek area has tested positive.
She was infectious in the community.
A teenager from Katherine east tested positive to the virus while in quarantine.
A child in Tennant Creek also tested positive and may have been infectious in the community.
Small changes to testing requirements for interstate arrivals to the territory have also been announced after today's National Cabinet meeting.
A PCR test 72 hours before arrival remains however the day three and six tests can now be completed as rapid antigen tests.
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