A young US military serviceman has tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in the Northern Territory.
The 22-year-old arrived to join the Marine Rotational Force in Darwin on Monday and was diagnosed with the virus on Wednesday.
The marine is experiencing mild symptoms and has been placed in isolation in the Howard Springs quarantine facility, NT Health confirmed on Thursday.
The marine is one of around 2,200 servicemen and women arriving in Darwin by June to train with the Australian Defence Force.
A young US military serviceman has tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in the Northern Territory (stock image of Australian Defence Force in Brisbane)
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has previously said all US personnel would undergo COVID-19 testing within 72 hours of departure for Australia and must present a negative result before boarding their flight.
They are also required to complete mandatory 14-day quarantine with virus testing on arrival in Australia and again before exiting the quarantine facility.
The Marine force has rented a secure facility outside Darwin – understood to be Bladin Point, about 20km south of Darwin – for the majority of personnel to complete their quarantining.
The total number of coronavirus cases diagnosed in the NT is 114. All cases have been related to international or interstate travel, with no cases of community transmission.