Thousands of text messages notifying Northern Territory residents of old COVID-19 test results were mistakenly sent out overnight.
Northern Territory Health Minister, Natasha Fyles, said the mix of positive and negative results were dispatched during an upgrade to the government's IT system.
It meant people who had previously been tested received repeat messages of their historical test results.
"It appears to have put a glitch in our system that thousands — around 8,000 — text messages, automated messages have gone out to people that have previously had COVID tests," Ms Fyles said.
"We have seen many text messages go out informing people of a test result, but please look at that date [when the test was taken].
"If you did get a text message saying you're positive and you haven't had a recent test, please look at that date just to clarify."
Ms Fyles apologised and said the issue had been rectified.
Territory records another COVID-related death
The government is monitoring what health officials are calling a "second wave" of coronavirus in the NT following a rise in infections.
The 655 cases diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday is the highest daily tally since early March.
Forty-nine people are in hospital with COVID-19 – an increase from 30 this time last week – while eight people are receiving oxygen and one is in intensive care.
"We saw that first wave in January, February," Ms Fyles said.
"This second wave is nowhere near as high as that, but we just need to make sure that we don't see hospitalisations increase over the coming days and weeks.
"Whether [the increase in cases] is related to the fact that we're a couple of days after Easter in the school holidays and we're seeing a bit of a bump in numbers, or whether this is our numbers rising for a little period of time, is yet to be seen."
The territory also recorded its 39th COVID-related death, following the death of a Darwin woman in her 60s on April 16.
A health team has been sent to Minjilang in response to rising cases in the West Arnhem community.
Ms Fyles said health officials were looking at dropping isolation requirements for close contacts of COVID-19 — in line with states like Victoria and New South Wales.
"When we eventually remove the close contact [isolation requirement], you will see, naturally, an increase in cases, so we just need to make sure in the Territory's context we've got all the health advice before we make that decision," she said.
NT businesses criticise CHO power plan
The NT Government is also facing scrutiny over its proposed amendments to a law which would see NT Chief Health Officer, Hugh Heggie, gain extended emergency powers until 2024.
The proposed changes would extend the current powers available to the CHO, which are due to expire mid-year, including directing people to test and isolate, enforcing vaccine mandates and ordering lockdowns and lockouts where necessary.
The Darwin Major Business Group has sent a letter, obtained by the ABC, to all NT Government MLAs which brands the proposed changes as concerning and lacking in transparency.
"The Darwin Major Business Group objects to the Bill and wishes to have placed on the public record our objections," reads the letter, signed by group chairman Michael Hannon.
"The Bill is unprecedented and unnecessary and does not take due consideration of the high level of proactive compliance repeatedly demonstrated by business, and in fact all Territorians, in ongoing compliance with CHO directions to date."
The group includes some of the heaviest hitters from the NT business sector including construction firms Sitzler and Halikos, pearling giant the Paspaley Group, the Darwin International Airport and Airnorth.
According to the group's letter, the plans would "allow the government to stifle any criticism of the social and economic impacts of the decisions they have mandated".
NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles said she had received the letter and her office had reached out to the business group to brief them on the planned measures.
She said the law changes were likely to pass through parliament in May.
Ms Fyles has previously said the powers were necessary to "protect our community and to manage the risk of the health system potentially becoming overwhelmed".
The Country Liberal Party Opposition has also previously voiced its concern over the prospect of allowing an unelected official to have access to the emergency powers proposed.
