The Northern Territory has recorded 11 new local COVID-19 cases linked to the Katherine outbreak.
The Territory cluster now stands at 51 cases, with five people from Binjari Aboriginal community and two from Robinson River among the new positive cases.
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner says one of the new cases was a woman who “evaded authorities” and travelled to Katherine from Binjari.
She travelled about 10km in a taxi to Katherine with three other people and was found on Wednesday morning.
“The woman did not know she had COVID-19,” Mr Gunner said. “She was at large in Katherine and she was infectious.”
The woman and the three other people who left Binjari are likely to face $5024 fines.
Mr Gunner said Katherine’s lockdown, which was due to end on December 4, could be pushed back as a result.
“This has been a significant step backwards,” he said.
The majority of the new infections are in Aboriginal people, with nine of the 51 current cases found in children aged under 12.
Restrictions have now eased at Robinson River with their lockdown downgraded to a lockout of unvaccinated people.
