Tiwi Islands ask all non-essential residents to leave amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Tiwi Islands' Traditional Owners have been successful in implementing new restrictions on entry in efforts to protect their remote communities from the potentially devastating COVID-19 pandemic.

tiwi islands

New infrastructure promises to improve internet connectivity to communities on the Tiwi Islands Source: ABC Australia

The Tiwi Land Council has enforced restriction of entry to the islands, located off the coast of the Northern Territory 85 kilometres north of Darwin. 

The measures will come into effect on Thursday night as the islands explore all options to protect the remote communities. 

The land council announced that as of 7pm on Thursday night communities on Bathurst and Melville Island will be closed.

Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu), Wurankuwu (Ranku), Milikaptiti (Snake Bay), and Pirlangimpi (Garden Point) will come under the new restrictions.

The closure of the areas across both islands includes public access to homelands and the Tiwi College at Pickataramoor. 

Any person who is not a resident or personnel required to deliver emergency or essential services has been asked to leave the islands.

The new announcement extends previous restrictions, introduced by the land council on March 18, to include the  docking of passenger boats and arrivals of passenger aircrafts. 

Tiwi families are also strongly advised to restrict their travel outside of the islands.

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Published 25 March 2020 6:57pm
Updated 25 March 2020 9:16pm
By NITV Staff Writer
Source: NITV News


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