Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT acting branch secretary Cath Hatcher is calling on the NT Government to shut all retail stores and hairdressers to stop the spread of COVID-19.
"We need to shut everything down that is not essential — keeping open hospitals, health clinics, some GPs and food shops," Ms Hatcher said.
"We need to shut everything else down now and everyone needs to stay at home.
"Who needs to have a haircut? It's not appropriate in the pandemic to go and get a haircut, or buy jewellery."
Not enough ventilator beds
There are 15 COVID-19 patients currently being cared for by NT Health, with one patient in a serious condition and in need of oxygen support.
NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie told ABC Radio Darwin yesterday he expected to see more serious cases.
But a sharp increase in high-needs cases is something Ms Hatcher warns the NT health system may not be able to manage.
"If we end up having numbers similar to that in ACT and Tasmania we will be having serious issues," she said.
Ms Hatcher said Darwin had about 30 ventilator beds, while Alice Springs had about 14.
"If we had 50-60 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, that is probably OK, but if all of those COVID patients in the Territory are going to be needing ventilators we are in a real crisis," she said.
Ms Hatcher said nurses were working together and there appeared to be enough PPE, but they were worried about the future.
"They're certainly anxious and there's heightened anxiety about the whole pandemic," she said.
Natasha Fyles on PPE
NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the local health system had about a fortnight's supply of personal protective equipment, and had discussed future equipment needs with National Cabinet on Saturday.
"This is standard — we have access to national medical stockpiles," she said.
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress CEO Donna Ah Chee said key messages about social distancing and hand hygiene were getting into bush communities, but it was important to keep communication going.
"Social distancing is something that we all need to get very vigilant about," she said.
"For our mob, for Aboriginal people, we really do need to be giving those messages all the time about how it's important to keep your distance from each other."
Ms Ah Chee said there was "still some work to be done" with border controls in remote communities near Alice Springs and there was still some confusion over the weekend.
Police not enforcing two-person rule
At his Sunday night press conference, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a tightening on the rules surrounding gatherings, limiting them to two people instead of 10.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said NT Police would not be enforcing the new restrictions in the NT and wanted Territorians to do the "right thing".
"The expert health advice says gatherings outdoors should be limited to two people, except for your family," he said.
"I want Territorians to follow this advice because we're doing it to help save lives.
"If it's something that needs to be enforced down the track, we'll do that. Police are currently enforcing a limit on groups of 10."
Ms Ah Chee said there needed to be a national approach, and urged the NT to do more.
"I think they do need to think about this seriously, if we're going to arrest the spread of this virus," she said.
