A returning Darwin local was last night diagnosed with coronavirus, the first in the Territory for 87 days.

The man, in his 30s, had been in a Melbourne "hot spot" and had flown back to Darwin via Brisbane on Monday.

He is now in isolation at Royal Darwin Hospital after becoming ill while quarantining on his arrival in Darwin.

Mr Gunner said the man "did the right thing and got tested".

"We have trained for this. We were ready for this. Our health care staff are excellent. Our plan worked," he said.

"But also, we should expect this to happen again. I know that's hard to hear, but it's the truth.

"I really want all Territorians to know this. It will happen again."

Mr Gunner said coronavirus isn't going anywhere for a while.

"We can't get rid of it completely - not yet. We don't have a vaccine and Australia is not corona free. We don't know when either of those things will happen. It might not be for a very long time.

"I have never guaranteed to keep coronavirus out. You know I can't do that.

"What I can do and will always do is work as hard as possible to keep Territorians as safe as possible, until this virus can be cured."

He said the NT was focusing on five key areas:

1. Hard borders. Mandatory quarantine for all arrivals until July 17, and then mandatory quarantine for all arrivals from hot spots.

2. Police on the borders and in airports monitoring arrivals. And on the beat checking that people in quarantine are following the rules (more than 20,000 checks so far).

3. Testing anyone who needs to be tested (more than 13,000 tests so far).

4. A Rapid Response Team to crush any outbreak as soon as it appears. And locking down local areas if we need to.

5. Tailored pandemic plans to protect remote communities.

"You know I will do whatever it takes to keep the Territory the safest place in Australia. Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes."

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