Health authorities are rushing to determine the source of COVID fragments found in Darwin wastewater, as doctors warn the city's over-crowded hospital has little capacity to cope with any outbreak of the virus.
Transport and freight workers were being urged to monitor for symptoms late on Thursday, with positive wastewater samples confirmed for a catchment covering the industrial areas of Berrimah, Winnellie and East Arm.
The health department said extra wastewater testing was getting underway for the Berrimah and wider Darwin catchments to determine which suburb the positive result came from.
Northern Territory Health Minister Natasha Fyles said no extra restrictions were considered necessary at this stage but the detection was a wake-up call.
"It's a warning to people to not be complacent," she said.
"If you're not feeling well, please don't think that there's no COVID in the Top End — please reach out and get a test."
Ms Fyles said extra resources would be directed to the government COVID hotline and testing centres on Friday.
Because of the catchment location of the positive result, health department said freight and transport workers especially should monitor for symptoms and comply with industry testing requirements.
Staff shortage shutters emergency department
Confirmation of the positive test came hours after the code yellow internal emergency — a measure called when patient numbers exceed capacity — was lifted at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH).
Ms Fyles confirmed the emergency department at Palmerston hospital was kept partially closed on Thursday in order to send staff to RDH.
It was the second code yellow at RDH called in September and the fourth in this past year.
Emergency doctors have joined the Australian Medical Association and nurses' union in voicing alarm at the rolling capacity crises.
The prospect of a COVID case was concerning for president of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), John Bonning, who said RDH would "really, really struggle" if the virus arrived.
"It's not a good message to the people of the Northern Territory and we believe they deserve better."
As well as staff shortages, the government this week again blamed the capacity pressures on the numbers of beds needed for aged care, disability and mental health patients without alternative accommodation options.
The Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation said the demand for psychiatric care in particular continued to outstrip supply.
"I've had contact from multiple doctors who are at their wits end," federation president Tom Fowles said.
"Doctors are getting burnt out, there are constant requests for overtime which people try and accommodate but as a result doctors are working extremely long hours."
Ms Fyles this week dismissed a call from the Country Liberal Party opposition to resign over the RDH crowding crises, saying a new adult mental health facility and promised dementia care unit would eventually ease over-crowding.
