The Chief Health Officer is directing anyone who has been in a New South Wales COVID-19 Case location since 30 April 2021 to undertake 14 days of quarantine at a suitable place, effective immediately.

This CHO Direction follows on from advice received by New South Wales health authorities that a male in his 50’s returned a positive COVID-19 on 5 May 2021, after developing symptoms and seeking a test on 4 May 2021.

The man has not travelled overseas in recent times and he does not work in a hotel quarantine, border or health role. Genome sequencing is underway, with results expected in the next day. Close contacts are being contacted, tested and required to isolate. 

Under the CHO Direction, those people who are currently in the Northern Territory and have visited a NSW COVID-19 case location, must immediately get tested and undertake 14 days of quarantine in their home or at a suitable place. They must remain in quarantine (unless to get tested) until noon of the 14th day after they were in a NSW case location, regardless of whether they return a negative COVID-19 test.

Any person arriving in the Northern Territory from 12.01am on 6 May 2021 who has been to a NSW COVID-19 case location is required to undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at either the Alice Springs or Howard Springs facilities. They must remain in quarantine until noon on the 14th day after the person was in a NSW case location. The person must submit to testing for COVID-19 while in quarantine.

A full list of public exposure sites can be found at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates

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

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

“Following on from clinical advice received by New South Wales Health Authorities about a new community case of COVID-19 with unknown origins, I am directing those people who have visited identified case locations to undertake 14 days of quarantine immediately.

“We need to take swift action while New South Wales undertakes urgent investigations into the source of the COVID-19 infection as well as contact tracing and community testing.

“Implementing quarantine measures in the Northern Territory will enable us to apply additional protections for our community while we wait for New South Wales to examine the genomic sequencing and better understand this unidentified community COVID-19 case. 

“Applying these directions does cause disruption, but they are designed to keep Territorians safe, in the most proportionate way possible.