Loved ones reunited as the NT’s new Covid border rules come into play

There were hugs and tears of joy at Darwin Airport as the NT’s new Covid border rules rolled into action.

A BOUQUET of flowers was waiting for Meta Khloe Maurizio as her plane touched down in Darwin.

Her partner Shayne Warden said it had been a four-month ordeal securing their reunion.

Mr Warden said the most difficult part of her journey from Jakarta, Indonesia was the final four-hour flight from Sydney to Darwin.

“Trying to get back in the country, and then getting to the Northern Territory – It’s been harder to get into the Northern Territory” he said.

“Just trying to get in here its been exemptions after exemptions after exemptions.

“The decision making has been very average.”

Home quarantine arrivals

Ms Maurizio was one of the first new arrivals to avoid a 14-day stint in government-run facilities, instead spending just seven days in home quarantine.

Mr Warden said the decision meant they could spend quality time together, while also saving thousands of dollars.

A Darwin International Airport spokeswoman said a temporary rapid-antigen testing space was set up to screen the new arrivals.

She said the airport was only told about the major changes to quarantine procedures two days ago, when it was announced by Chief Minister Michael Gunner in a press conference.

On Monday Mr Gunner said “teething problems” were expected in the early stages of the eased border measures, and thanked passengers for their patience.

Chief health officer Charles Pain said at least 50,000 rapid antigen tests had been secured, with more on the way.

NT Health also announced that fully-vaccinated people who had spent more than seven days at the Howard Springs and Alice Springs quarantine facilities were being released early.

It comes as the centre is increasingly used to house close contacts to the Katherine cluster.

Home quarantine arrivals

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker confirmed 189 people had been linked to the latest cluster, with the number likely to increase to 230.

Mr Chalker said an aircraft was on the ground at Katherine with the ability to transfer a further 60 close contacts to Howard Springs, with two-thirds of the seats already filled by Monday morning.

“So we’ve been moving individuals across pretty big parts of the Northern Territory,” Mr Chalker said.

He said those being moved were compliant and patient with about the emergency health measures.

He there was no current capacity for on Country housing for close contacts.

Mr Chalker said the decision to start home quarantine a month ahead of schedule was not included by the need to use Howard Springs as part of the remote “surge”.

Originally published as Loved ones reunited as the NT’s new Covid border rules come into play