The Chief Health Officer will revoke all Victorian Local Government Areas (LGA’s) as COVID-19 hotspots for the purpose of travel to the Northern Territory from 6.00pm on 17 February 2021.

People from these Local Government Areas are able to travel to the Northern Territory without having to quarantine after this time. People in Mandatory Supervised Quarantine will be able to leave after this time.

If you are from a Victorian Hotspot and are in the Northern Territory and are still awaiting a COVID-19 test result, you may leave quarantine, unless you have been identified as a close contact of a positive case.

Close contacts of positive cases from any of the Victorian hotspots who are in the Northern Territory, are still required to complete their 14 day quarantine period.

Cases linked to the Holiday Inn cluster have now been traced, tested and quarantined by Victorian officials.  

The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation across Australia, and will declare a hotspot at any time if required. 

All people travelling to the Northern Territory are required to complete an online border entry form upon arrival, and if entering the Northern Territory from a declared hotspot be prepared to enter mandatory supervised quarantine at their own cost.

The Chief Health Officer has urged Territorians not to become complacent as the COVID-19 situation can change quickly. Personal behaviour including practising high levels of hygiene and physical distancing remain our best defence against COVID-19.

It is also important the community continues to check-in at businesses and venues across the Northern Territory so NT Health can quickly undertake contact tracing if required.

The Territory Check In App is a contactless, secure and easy way for customers and visitors to sign into businesses and venues and have this data stored directly by NT Health. The Territory Check In App can be downloaded from the Google Play or Apple App stores.

The risk of COVID-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone to follow all health directions.

·         Maintain a physical distance of 1.5m at all times.

·         Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.

·         Do not travel or go to work if you are sick.

·         If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19. 

·         For more information about hotspots and to stay up to date with the latest information visit www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au

 Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie

“Based on current expert advice on control of the Holiday Inn Cluster in Victoria, provided at the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, it is appropriate to revoke Victorian Local Government Areas as hotspots for the purpose of travel to the Northern Territory.  I will continue to monitor the situation in Victoria and in the rest of Australia.

“The cases linked to the Holiday Inn Cluster have been contained and their contacts traced while significant community testing has been undertaken with no new cases. This gives me confidence in revoking the hotspots in line with Victoria coming out of its five day lock-down tonight.

“Domestic travel is a risk in 2021, and COVID-19 hotspots can be declared at any time. Those intending to travel need to be reminded that if they are caught up in a hotspot, they must be prepared to undertake mandatory supervised quarantine to protect the health and safety of all Territorians.”