In addition to Greater Melbourne and the Bendigo Local Government Area, the Acting Chief Health Officer has declared the remainder of the state of Victoria to be a COVID-19 hotspot for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory effective 12 noon on June 3, 2021.
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This declaration follows a continual increase in the number of COVID-19 positive cases being recorded in Victoria, with exposure sites expanding across a wider geographical area.
In addition to arrivals from Greater Melbourne and Bendigo, the new CHO directions in regards to the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria requires that:
- Anyone travelling to the Northern Territory from the state of Victoria must undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine at the Alice Springs or Howard Springs quarantine facilities from 12 noon on June 3, 2021
- Anyone who arrived in the Northern Territory from Victoria between 12 May 2021 and 12.00am on 27 May 2021 must check the Victorian Department of Health website at least once per day because the list of public exposure sites is continually expanding.
- Arrivals must ensure they are complying with NT quarantine and testing directions if a place they have been to becomes a public exposure site.
- Anyone who is symptomatic, regardless as to whether or not they have been in a declared COVID-19 hotspot, must isolate, seek a test, and remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is returned.
"We need to be extra cautious at this time, particularly in response to the increased travel across Australia and the many thousands of visitors expected to come to the Territory this month," Chief Health Officer, Dr Charles Pain said.
"There are now high risk Tier 1 sites within some regional areas of Victoria. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether there has been transmission at these sites, which is why we are taking the additional precaution of declaring all of Victoria a COVID-19 hotspot.
"This outbreak highlights the need for Territorians and all Australians, to get the COVID-19 vaccine because until we do we are at risk of a devastating outbreak in the Territory."
Victorian public exposure sites continue to change and impacted individuals are required to identify themselves to Northern Territory health authorities and follow the relevant directions.
A list of Victorian public exposure sites can be found here.
To book a COVID-19 test, book online 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.
Quarantine directions for NSW travelers
The CHO is directing any person who has arrived in the Northern Territory since May 23, 2021, or who will arrive in the Northern Territory and has been to a NSW COVID-19 case location at the dates and times specified to:
- Any person defined as a 'close contact' by NSW health authorities must immediately get tested and undertake 14 days of quarantine in their home or at a suitable place. They must remain in quarantine (unless to get tested) until noon of the 14th day after they were in a NSW COVID-19 case location, regardless of whether they return a negative COVID-19 test.
- Any person identified as a 'casual contact' by NSW health authorities must isolate, get a COVID-19 test and remain in self-quarantine until a negative is returned.
- Any person who has arrived, or who will arrive in the Northern Territory and has been in New South Wales since 23 May 2021 must check the NSW Health COVID-19 case locations website at least once per day and comply with these directions if a place they have been to becomes a COVID-19 case location.
New South Wales COVID-19 case locations can be found here.
Victorian three tier system
The Victorian Department of Health has a three tier, risk-based system for exposure sites. In line with the Victorian tier system, the Acting Chief Health Officer has made the following directions in relation to any sites listed from 16 May onwards:
- Tier 1 (A): Anyone who arrived in the Northern Territory after 12.01am on 25 May 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 1 (B): Anyone who arrived into the Northern Territory between 16 May 2021 and 12.00am on 25 May 2021 immediately get tested and undertake 14 days of quarantine in their home or at a suitable place. They must remain in quarantine (unless to get tested) until noon of the 14th day after they were in a Victorian Tier 1 public exposure site, regardless of whether they return a negative COVID-19 test.
- Tier 2: Anyone who arrived into the Northern Territory since 16 May 2021, and until otherwise directed, 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 16 May 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.
Follow health regulations
- If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not travel.
- Make sure you get tested and stay at home, maintain a physical distance of 1.5m at all times.
- Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Put your tissue in the bin straight away.
- Do not go to work if you feel sick.
- If you have symptoms, stay away from others and call a doctor or the NT COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484
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