The Chief Health Officer has declared all of regional New South Wales as a hotspot for the purpose of travel to the Northern Territory, effective from 5pm on 27 July 2021.

This in addition to hotspots already declared for Greater Sydney, Sydney surrounds and the Illawarra and Central West Region. This means that from 5pm today, all of New South Wales will be a declared hotspot.

The hotspot declaration follows on from continuing high case numbers in New South Wales as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to evolve and spread. The COVID-19 Delta variant has proven to be highly infectious, increasing the risk of community spread to the Northern Territory and other parts of Australia.

Anyone who arrives in the Northern Territory, who has been in regional New South Wales after 5pm on 27 July 2021, must undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine at the Alice Springs or Howard Springs quarantine facilities.        

Anyone who has left the areas of regional New South Wales covered by this declaration, before 5pm on 27 July 2021 is able to enter into the Northern Territory without having to undertake quarantine. This hotspot declaration does not extend back the usual 14 days.

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 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.

• Book your COVID-19 vaccine
• Check in using The Territory Check In App every time, everywhere
• If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19
• Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly
• Do not go to work if you feel sick
• Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres where possible

To stay up to date with the latest information visit www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie

“The significant COVID-19 outbreak in New South Wales continues to grow with high cases numbers being reported.

“The Delta strain of COVID-19 has proven to be more infectious and virulent and we have seen it spread into regional New South Wales through the movement of essential workers or breaches of quarantine and lockdown restrictions.

“We are being pre-emptive in declaring regional New South Wales a hotspot as we do not know where any future cases of COVID-19 may occur in these areas and this poses an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of Territorians.

“There are also significant numbers of eligible people in New South Wales who have not yet had their COVID-19 vaccine.

“In the NT, we have the highest vaccination rate in the country – and I thank those people who have been vaccinated and encourage those people yet to receive to get it as soon as you can. Getting the vaccine is the only way we are going to be able to get control of COVID-19.”