Northern Territory Covid outbreak grows amid snap lockdown as Australia passes 80% vaccination target - The Guardian Australia

The news came as Australia passed the 80% double vaccination dose rate in people aged 16 and over.

The Katherine region was plunged into a snap three-day lockdown on Friday after the Territory recorded the first local case.

The first case was an unvaccinated man in his 20s who tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday after spending time in Greater Darwin and Katherine. His housemate tested positive on Friday.

Authorities announced on Saturday that a 21-year-old woman who arrived from Cairns on the 29 October, and spent time with the man, had also tested positive. She only became symptomatic on Saturday.

Since 12.01am Friday, Katherine residents have only been allowed to leave their homes for five reasons: to access goods and services, receive medical treatment, provide care and support, perform essential work and exercise.

Greater Darwin is also locked out of Katherine in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

The NT chief minister, Michael Gunner, said that 1,200 Covid-19 tests had been administered on Friday.