A home quarantine pilot program will begin from tomorrow for some Territorians, with the NT Government hoping to allow home quarantine for double-vaccinated travellers in the coming weeks.
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The pilot program will take place in Darwin involving around 100 boarding school students returning to the Territory from COVID-19 hotspots.
A pilot program will also take place in Alice Springs from November 1 involving around 30 people.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced on Monday that the pilot will kick-start the NT Government's plan to introduce home quarantine for fully-vaccinated travellers from COVID hotspots.
Once the pilot program is complete, 14-day home quarantine will become available to anyone travelling from a hotspot who is;
- Fully vaccinated
- Provides proof of a negative test less than 48 hours before entering the Territory,
- Undergoes testing on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, ans 17
- Uses the Good to Go App
- Stays in a house, apartment, hotel or Airbnb
- Doesn't have visitors during quarantine.
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The residence used for quarantine must also have a fully vaccinated rate of more than 80 per cent.
Home quarantine will be free apart from any accomodation costs, with travellers allowed to quarantine at the homes of fully-vaccinated Territorians.
People hosting someone undergoing home quarantine are able to travel in the community freely as long as they also undergo the same testing requirements.
Unvaccinated travellers from COVID hotspots still need to be granted an exemption to travel to the NT, and still have to undergo quarantine at Howard Springs at a cost of $2500.
Mr Gunner said the NT Government is expecting to shorten home quarantine from 14 to seven days for fully-vaccinated travellers just before Christmas.
"It's been a long, long road but we have done everything to keep Territorians safe and keep the economy turning - which will always remain our priority," he said.
"As the nation begins to re-open, fully-vaccinated Territorians can look forward to reuniting with loved ones for Christmas."
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