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ABC News
ABC News
Health
Alicia Perera

NT records COVID-related death of woman in her 50s, as new cases jump to 660

An indoor mask mandate is still in place across the NT, with many also opting to wear masks outdoors. (ABC News: Che Chorley)

NT Health has today reported the death of a woman in her 50s from COVID-19.

There have now been 27 COVID-related deaths in the Territory since the pandemic began.

In a statement, NT Health said the woman was from a remote community in the West Arnhem region and had underlying health conditions.

The department said she had died last Friday, February, 25, but her death had been referred to the coroner's office and had only been confirmed as COVID-related this morning.

NT Health said there were still 48 people with COVID-19 in hospitals across the NT, the same as the number of patients on Thursday. 

Of those, eight are requiring oxygen and two are in ICU.

It also said there were 660 new COVID-19 cases reported in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Thursday – an increase of about 100 on the previous day's caseload –  including 437 recorded from rapid antigen tests. 

The new cases include 326 in the Top End, 85 in Central Australia, 47 in East Arnhem, 104 in Big Rivers and 27 in the Barky, while 71 are still under investigation.

There are now 3,677 active COVID-19 cases in the NT. 

An indoor mask mandate is still in place across the Territory, but is expected to be lifted on Monday.

NT Health clarifies details of earlier deaths

Earlier today, in response to questions from the ABC, NT Health clarified the dates of three COVID-related deaths reported on Thursday.

A spokeswoman said a woman in her 70s had died at Alice Springs  Hospital on February 28 and a man in his 60s had died on February 26.

She also said a woman in her 60s from Darwin had died at Royal Darwin Hospital almost a month prior, on February 6.

The spokeswoman said Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie had confirmed the deaths were related to COVID-19, in line with national criteria, on Thursday. 

How and when will the COVID pandemic end?
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