In addition to Greater Melbourne and the Local Government Area of Bendigo, the Acting Chief Health Officer has declared the remainder of the state of Victoria to be a COVID-19 hotspot for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory effective 12 noon on 3 June 2021.
This declaration follows a continual increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases being recorded in Victoria, with exposure sites expanding across a wider geographical area.
In addition to arrivals from Greater Melbourne and Bendigo, the new CHO Directions in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria requires that:
· Anyone travelling to the Northern Territory from the state of Victoria must undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine at the Alice Springs or Howard Springs quarantine facilities from 12 noon on 3 June 2021.
· Anyone who is currently in the Northern Territory who has visited a Tier 1 Exposure Site in Victoria and is undertaking quarantine must remain in quarantine (unless to get tested) until noon of the 14th day after they were at the exposure site, regardless of returning a negative COVID-19 test or not. Should the Tier 1 site be downgraded to Tier 2 or Tier 3 site, impacted people may leave quarantine at this time as long as they are not awaiting a COVID-19 test result.
· Anyone who arrived in the Northern Territory from Victoria between 12 May 2021 and 12.00am on 27 May 2021 must check the Victorian Department of Health website at least once per day because the list of public exposure sites is continually expanding. Arrivals must ensure they are complying with NT quarantine and testing directions if a place they have been to becomes a public exposure site.
· Anyone who is symptomatic, regardless as to whether or not they have been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot, must isolate, seek a test, and remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is returned.
Victorian public exposure sites continue to change and impacted individuals are required to identify themselves to Northern Territory health authorities and follow the relevant directions.
A list of Victorian public exposure sites can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites#public-exposure-sites-in-victoria.
To book a COVID-19 test, book online at https://covid19appointment.nt.gov.au/test or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484
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 are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine book in at your earliest opportunity at https://covid19appointment.nt.gov.au/vaccinate
· 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
“This decision has been made taking into account the extensive growth in the number of exposure sites across Victoria.
“There are now high risk Tier 1 sites within some regional areas of Victoria. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether there has been transmission at these sites, which is why we are taking the additional precaution of declaring all of Victoria a COVID-19 hotspot.
“While Victoria is implementing strong control measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including extending the lockdown across Greater Melbourne and conducting extensive testing, there is a potential for COVID-19 to continue to spread across Victoria as more public exposure sites are identified.
“We need to be extra cautious at this time, particularly in response to the increased travel across Australia and the many thousands of visitors expected to come to the Territory this month. This outbreak highlights the need for Territorians and all Australians, to get the COVID-19 vaccine because until we do we are at risk of a devastating outbreak in the Territory.