The Northern Territory has recorded its first death from the coronavirus after an Elder from the Binjari community passed away overnight.
The woman, in her 70s, died in the Royal Darwin Hospital at 11:30 pm after acquiring her infection in the Katherine region.
She had underlying health conditions and was not vaccinated.
"This is a period of great sorrow for a family and for an entire community," NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.
"They are a tight community who care for each other and care about each other. This is a very hard day for them."
"We all grieve with them today... All Territorians grieve with them today."
The Binjari Elder was admitted to hospital on November 20 where she battled the virus for substantial periods receiving additional oxygen.
"I know the clinical team at RDH (Royal Darwin Hospital) are also devastated," Mr Gunner said.
"You did everything you could, she received the best of care. We thank you for that."
The Northern Territory recorded two positive cases of COVID today.
The new cases are unrelated to its current cluster which remains at 60 cases.
One of the cases is a man who arrived from Melbourne on November 29 with three family members.
The second is a woman who flew to Darwin from Adelaide with her two children.
South Australia will be considered a 'red zone' from 8 pm Friday as a result of its worsening COVID outbreak.
Travellers from the state will be required to comply with additional testing and isolation requirements.
"While we are the last place in Australia to have one of our own to come to COVID it is very unlikely to be the last time that we have to deliver such news," Mr Gunner said.
"Today is a tragic reminder of the severity of this virus."
