The Chief Health Officer has declared 10 suburbs across Metropolitan Melbourne as COVID-19 Hotspots for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory from 3.30pm on 4 February 2021.
The 10 suburbs declared as hotspots are:
· Wheelers Hill
· Brighton
· Clayton South
· Heatherton
· Keysborough
· Melbourne
· Moorabbin Airport
· Noble Park
· Springvale
· West Melbourne
This follows on from a male hall monitor working at a hotel quarantine facility testing positive to COVID-19. The man visited a number of locations across Melbourne before developing COVID-19 symptoms and getting tested. Victoria Health Authorities have implemented a number of public health controls to prevent any spread of COVID-19.
Anyone travelling to the Northern Territory from a COVID-19 Hotspot must undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine at the Alice Springs or Howard Springs quarantine facilities. Quarantine will be undertaken at the first urban centre you arrive at, including for transit.
Those people that were in the air travelling to the NT from a hotspot at the time it was declared, will have the option to return home or enter mandatory supervised quarantine at no cost.
Those people who have arrived in the Northern Territory between 29 January and 3.29pm today from a declared hotspot must have a COVID-19 test and undertake self-quarantine until a negative test is returned. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test if you only transited to the airport. To book a test call 1800 008 002. For all other enquiries phone 1800 490 484.
We are expecting a large volume of calls to our hotlines so please be patient. We have increased our staffing capability and extended our operating hours. You will be advised to leave a message so we can return your call. Please only ring once. Our hotline team will respond to your calls and messages as soon as possible.
For information about declared hotspots, call the Border Restrictions Hotline on 1800 490 484. If you are intending to travel to the Northern Territory from a COVID-19 Hotspot you are advised to rethink your plans. If you are a Territorian intending to travel to a hotspot you are advised to rethink your plans.
The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation in Victoria and will take into account COVID-19 monitoring and data collection, the extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.
The risk of COVID-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone to follow all health directions.
· If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not travel. Make sure you get tested and stay at home.
· Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres at all times.
· Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.
· Do not go to work if you feel sick.
· If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19.
To stay up to date with the latest information visit www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie
“I will be declaring 10 suburbs across Metropolitan Melbourne as COVID-19 Hotspots, following a hotel quarantine worker testing positive for COVID-19.
“Victoria has responded very quickly to this case implementing a number of immediate public health controls to limit any spread of COVID-19. Measures include significant contact tracing, increased testing, mandatory mask wearing inside and outside, limiting numbers at gatherings and putting scheduled return to work measures on hold.
“As always, I urge the community to remain vigilant and stay informed. I will be monitoring the situation in Victoria closely and will not hesitate to take further action if required to protect the health and safety of Territorians.”