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COVID-19 Update – Greater Melbourne hotspot revoked

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet

The Chief Health Officer has revoked Greater Melbourne as a hotspot for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory and implemented quarantine and testing directions for people who have been to a COVID-19 public exposure site in Victoria.  These directions are effective from 6:00pm on 21 June 2021.

Anyone currently in mandatory supervised quarantine from Greater Melbourne, who has not been to a Tier 1 public exposure site in Victoria, will be able to exit at this time.

Anyone currently in mandatory supervised quarantine from Greater Melbourne, who was in a Tier 1 exposure site at the relevant time since 7 June 2021 must remain in quarantine until 14 days have passed from the time the person was in the Tier 1 Exposure site. 

The Victorian Department of Health has a three tier, risk-based system for COVID-19 public exposure sites. In line with the Victorian tier system, the Chief Health Officer is directing:

·         Tier 1 : Anyone who arrived in the Northern Territory after 12.01am on 7 June 2021 who has visited any of the Tier 1 public exposure sites as stipulated by Victorian health authorities at the specified dates and times must enter mandatory supervised quarantine at their first port of arrival.

·         Tier 2: Anyone who arrived into the Northern Territory since 7 June 2021, must self-isolate, get a test and remain in self-quarantine until a negative is returned.

·         Tier 3: Anyone who arrived into the Northern Territory since 7 June 2021, and until otherwise directed, must monitor your symptoms and if any symptoms develop, immediately self-isolate, get a test and remain in self-quarantine until a negative is returned.

  • Any person who this Direction applies to must check the Victorian Health COVID-19 case locations website at least once per day to make sure they comply if a place they have been to becomes a COVID-19 case location.

Victorian public exposure sites can be found here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites#public-exposure-sites-in-victoria.

Testing and quarantine directions remain in place for Queensland, News South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

A list of public exposure sites can be found at:

·         Queensland:  https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/

·         New South Wales: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

·         Australian Capital Territory: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/travel

To arrange a COVID-19 test, please book online at coronavirus.nt.gov.au 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.

·         Book your COVID-19 vaccine 

·         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.

Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer, Dr Hugh Heggie

“I have been monitoring Greater Melbourne closely and taken into consideration the scientific evidence, data and epidemiology. In addition, I have also reviewed the dates listed for the COVID-19 public exposure sites as well as mystery cases and monitored the extent of community transmission.

“It has now been 28 days since the last mystery case in Victoria and I am confident that the outbreak in that state has now been brought under control.

“I am therefore revoking Greater Melbourne as a COVID-19 hotspot for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory. I have also declared quarantine and testing directions for COVID-19 at the remaining public exposure sites in Victoria to ensure we have safety and protection mechanisms in place to protect Territorians.

“Quarantine and testing directions also remain in place for Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. I want to remind anyone who has been to any of the public exposure sites in these states and territories to stay up to date with the latest information and to follow all NT Health directions.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank the affected individuals who have cooperated with our Chief Health Officer COVID-19 Directions, which are put in place to keep the Northern Territory safe.

“Recent outbreaks across Australia show that COVID-19 still poses a very real risk to our safety and highlight the importance of getting vaccinated, so we can return to life as normal as soon as possible.

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