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The number of people with COVID-19 in Northern Territory hospitals has reached a new peak of 111, as the Territory recorded 828 new cases of coronavirus overnight.
Of those in hospital, 10 patients are receiving oxygen and five are in intensive care, Health Minister Natasha Fyles said.
Of the new cases, 648 were recorded from rapid antigen tests while the remainder came from PCR tests.
There are now 4,650 active cases of COVID-19 in the NT.
Ms Fyles said the NT government from 6pm tonight, a seven-day outdoors mask mandate would come into effect across the NT to combat growing case numbers.
The mandate will apply to people aged 12 and over whenever they cannot physically distance from others, but will not apply while exercising.
“We know that masks are a really vital tool in stopping the spread of COVID, particularly with Omicron,” Ms Fyles said.
“This is just acknowledging, as predicted, an increase in case numbers, with the conclusion of the school holidays and people returning to the Territory.”
Ms Fyles also said lockdowns in Gunyangara (Ski Beach), Wurrumiyanga on the Tiwi Islands and Utopia in Central Australia would end at 2pm today as scheduled.
Case numbers at the Alice Springs prison have jumped, with 154 new cases recorded there yesterday.
There are now a total of 274 cases at the facility.
Ms Fyles said all of the 154 people who tested positive yesterday were asymptomatic and the prison population had a full vaccination rate of 86 per cent.
Ms Fyles also said there had been 22 new cases recorded in Milingimbi in Arnhem Land.
“Our officials are just working through what assistance they will need in this situation, so we can provide them with support and resources,” she said.
She said health authorities were also working with Wadeye after the community recorded its first COVID-19 case yesterday.
More to come.
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