The couple, aged in their 70s, followed self-quarantine protocols on their return to Darwin two days ago and went to Royal Darwin Hospital after feeling unwell.

They are now in isolation under the care of the NT Health system and contact tracing has begun.

Eight Territorians have now tested positive for COVID-19, including a man being treated in the New South Wales health system.

The man, aged in his 60s, was a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship and had stayed in Sydney after becoming unwell.

He is being monitored by NSW health authorities.

As he is a resident of the Territory, the man's diagnosis will be recorded in the NT's COVID-19 statistics.

The ship had docked in Sydney last week after sailing from New Zealand.

The infections only became public 24 hours after the ship docked.and although some passengers displaying flu-like symptoms while aboard, four COVID-19 detections were not known until well after passengers disembarked.

The other detection in the NT was a Sydney tourist who was later quarantined at RDH but has been included in the NSW tally.

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