Katherine MLA Jo Hersey recently spoke with the Katherine Times to voice her concerns of the matter, citing her many unanswered questions.

"At the moment in Katherine, there isn't any real clear direction from the Health Minister's department as to what tourists travelling in vans should do," Ms Hersey said.

"The general advice is anyone entering the NT from a hotspot since the May 12 should self-isolate, get tested then wait until a negative COVID test has been received. Where do they isolate if they do not have shower and toilet facilities in their van? How do they receive their groceries?"

Instead of the implementation of police-manned border checkpoints, Ms Hersey said the Katherine community must rely on the honestly of those visiting to self-isolate and get tested.

"When tourists are checking in you are relying on them to do the right thing. Who knows where that tourist has travelled from and what shops or restaurants they have been in, did they check in?," she said.

"I've had feedback that the suggestion to the parks is that they put a sign up and get people who have been in a hotspot to call reception from their car. The reality is, anyone who has been in a hotspot should not be moving around at all.

"There is confusion among tourist operators around what they can do to protect themselves and their staff when the tourists who have been in a declared hot spot arrive."

Ms Hersey admitted one of her main concerns that stems from the ongoing confusion is the increased risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern Territory.

"I am concerned the police haven't yet been mobilised on our borders and, from the information the Health Minister's department supplied on May 27, it appears there isn't a clear direction for travellers in vans," she said.

"One of my main concerns is the confusion created by the Gunner Government, in terms of communication around COVID, could heighten the risk of COVID-19 getting out into the Northern Territory community."

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