The Northern Territory is pausing elective surgeries to cope with an anticipated extra demand for ICU beds as COVID cases approach a peak, Chief Minister Michael Gunner says.
The Territory has announced 1,306 new cases of COVID-19, with 148 people requiring care in hospital.
Sixteen hospital patients require oxygen, and six people are in intensive care.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the number of people in intensive care was likely to rise in coming days.
"While we may have reached or be about to reach a peak in cases, it is reasonable to expect the ICU cases will rise over the next few days as there is generally a lag," he said.
"For this reason, in line with other jurisdictions, we are pausing elective surgery and day surgery in our hospitals to help our clinicians manage the current COVID cases and prepare for a potential increase in the next few weeks."
Mr Gunner said there were currently 7,094 active cases of COVID-19 across the Territory, but he added that "there are no doubt more than that."
He said the cases in hospital were of most concern, while most others were managing the virus "with a couple Panadol, plenty of fluids, plenty of rest, and plenty of Netflix".
The fourth COVID death was recorded in the NT on Thursday and the federal government reintroduced biosecurity zones restricting travel in and out of remote communities.
Addressing criticism about the management of rising case numbers in remote communities, Mr Gunner said perspective was needed about the severity of most infections in vaccinated people.
"There are people, some very loud voices, who would like you to think that every case of COVID is a catastrophe, that everybody should be taken out of their home and put into a hospital," he said.
"Their heart is in the right place. But a response like that will be the medical equivalent of panic buying."
Mr Gunner said the widespread transmission of Omicron was what authorities had expected and prepared for.
"Testing every single person in a community, no matter if they're sick or not, takes up tests that we can use on symptomatic people later, the people who really need them.
"Flying a healthy person out of a community takes up a plane that may be needed to evacuate a seriously sick person from another community, a person who really needs it, and that's not necessarily [just] about COVID.
"Putting a healthy person in a hospital bed, takes up a hospital bed for a seriously sick person, a person who really needs it, and again, that's not just about COVID."
Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie said stability in the number of people requiring oxygen and intensive care was encouraging and he had confidence in preparations for the case peak.
Support package reintroduced for small business
Mr Gunner also used Friday's press conference to announce the return of a financial support package for small businesses.
The Territory Business Hardship Register will be available for active local businesses with:
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An annual turnover of at least $75,000 and less than $10 million and
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A 40 per cent reduction in turnover in December or January compared to the same period in 2019-20
Eligible businesses can apply for a waiver of payroll tax, grants of between $1,000 and $3,000 and a 30 per cent discount on utility bills.
Mr Gunner said the package was designed to support businesses through the peak of cases before customers returned on the other side.
"This does not cover every single cost, it doesn't solve every single issue," he said.
"It's not meant to. It's a bit of help right now to get people through this."
