Notably, all three teens had tested negative for Covid-19, but this hasn’t stopped them from being imprisoned as “close contacts” of a positive case. Michael Gunner at a press conference on Nov. Now, the reports are saying that the number has increased with “hundreds of household and other close contacts” being flown into the facility. Two weeks ago, reports emerged that 38 aboriginal members of the community had been sent to Howard Springs. The three teens were identified as members of the Binjari community near Katherine. Later that day, Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Police Chief Jamie Chalker confirmed that three teens, aged 15, 16, and 17 had been apprehended after a foot chase on the edge of Palmerston. However, at the time of the reporting, Sarv noted that the search had been disbanded for unknown reasons. The police initiated a manhunt in response, conducting “thorough searches” of cars and busses: searching boots and checking vehicle registrations.

Tahlia Sarv, a 9 News reporter on sight in Darwin, Australia, cheerily replies that the trio “scaled the fence in the early hours” of the morning. In a 9 News Australia clip, reporter Davina Smith claims that “three people have escaped from the Howard Springs COVID Quarantine facility.” This news came just days after a 27-year old, who was negative for Covid-19, scaled the fence and escaped into a waiting vehicle. On November 30, three teenagers attempted to escape the facility.

This past week saw Australia’s “ gold-standard” for Covid-19 quarantine facilities come under fire after multiple escape attempts and a damning insider report.

Unherd hayley hodgson