The Chief Health Officer has this morning directed anyone who travelled from Perth to Melbourne on Wednesday 21 April 2021 on flight QF778 and has arrived in the Northern Territory must undertake a 14-day quarantine period.

This decision comes off the back of clinical advice received late on Friday, where the Victorian Department of Health listed the flight itself as a high-risk COVID-19 exposure site.

All passengers on this flight will be contacted by Victorian Health Authorities and if found to be in the Northern Territory will be required to undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at the Howard Springs as directed by the CHO.

Additionally, the Chief Health Officer has directed anyone who was in Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport Terminal One between 6.30 and 7.30pm on Wednesday 21 April 2021 to quarantine at home, arrange a COVID-19 test, and remain in quarantine at home until a negative test is returned. The Victorian health authorities have therefore listed this time at the airport terminal as a ‘tier two exposure site’.

 Both of these directions are linked to the Perth and Peel Region Hotspot declared yesterday by Northern Territory health authorities.

To arrange a test, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484 or book online at covid19appointment.nt.gov.au.

If you travelled on QF778 and are seeking further information please call the COVID-19 hotline.

COVID-19 hotline operating hours have been extended and staffing capacity has been increased to meet demand.

The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation across Australia, 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.

Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer Dr Charles Pain

“In response to further advice I received at AHPPC last night and the listing of QF778 and Tullamarine Terminal 1 as exposure sites by Victorian health authorities, I have expanded our testing and quarantine directions to protect the NT community.

“These directions affect those who may have arrived into the Northern Territory who have come into contact with COVID-19 while in transit this week.

“I regret any disruption to travel plans that may result from my directions and would encourage anyone who is planning to travel domestically to, or from, the Territory to keep informed about any directions that may affect your plans. While we are clearly able to travel more freely in Australia in recent weeks, we can anticipate the occasional need to restrict travel to protect against outbreaks in the community.