The Greater Katherine and the Robinson River community lockdown has been extended until Nov. 22, after nine new COVID-19 cases were detected in the region overnight. This brings the total outbreak in the NT to 17 cases following the announcement of two cases yesterday. “This is obviously a serious escalation in the COVID-19 situation in the Northern Territory,” NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said. The Chief Minister said that all of the new COVID-19 cases are household contacts of the two cases recorded on Monday, and all are Indigenous Australians. The new cases range in age from 71 to two five-year-old twin girls, and one—a 65-year-old woman—has been admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital. All positive cases will isolate for the duration of the disease in Howard Springs Quarantine centre. Katherine Hospital and MacFarlane Primary School have also been identified as key exposure sites of concern. As a result, parents of …