Ten travelers each hour were required to self-quarantine after new road blocks were set up to control the Territory's borders yesterday afternoon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
NT Police say there are pleased with the community wide acceptance of the border control measures brought in to help stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus into the NT.
In the first 14 hours of the border locking down at 4pm yesterday, 140 people were required to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Hebb said travelers to the Territory have overwhelmingly accepted the new requirements, including completing an arrival form, when coming into the NT.
"Visitors, residents returning and essential workers were engaged and co-operative with the processes that needed to be undertaken to protect the Northern Territory community," Mr Hebb said.
"There is no room for any complacency with regards to the preventative responses to this Public Health Emergency.
"These measures, along with social distancing and good hygiene, are in place to protect the lives of Territorians."
"I want to praise the exceptional work undertaken by many staff from NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services, NTG agencies and non-Government agencies who were involved in the extensive planning required for establishing the border checkpoints."
"I want to also thank in advance the frontline staff who are working at the border control points, who will be looking after their fellow Territorians into the future."
The ADF is coming to help NT police patrol the border check points.
Our neighbouring states, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia have all adopted border closures of their own.
Anyone seeking to enter the NT must fill in a border arrival form before arriving to declare:
- where you have travelled in the last 30 days
- your personal and contact details
- information about where you intend to stay whilst in the Territory.
There are exemptions for essential services and compassionate or medical grounds.
Border arrival forms and information including about exemptions and applying for exemption is provided on https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/
Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.