Melbourne Airport travellers to be tested in the Northern Territory

ANYONE who travelled through Melbourne Airport on Wednesday evening needs to get tested for COVID-19, while those on QF778 on the same day must quarantine at Howard Springs for 14 days

• Another 10 new NT COVID cases, including two US Marines
• NT declares Perth, Peel region COVID hot spots after outbreak

THE NT’s Chief Health Officer has announced further testing requirements, after a man who travelled from Perth to Melbourne tested positive for COVID-19.

Anyone who travelled from Perth to Melbourne on Wednesday April 21, 2021 on flight QF778 and has arrived in the Northern Territory must undertake a 14-day quarantine period.

All passengers on this flight will be contacted by Victorian Health Authorities and if found to be in the Northern Territory will be required to undertake 14 days mandatory supervised quarantine at the Howard Springs as directed by the CHO.

Additionally, the Chief Health Officer has directed anyone who was in Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport Terminal One between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday to quarantine at home until they have received a negative COVID-19 test.

The Victorian health authorities have therefore listed this time at the airport terminal as a ‘tier two exposure site’.

To arrange a test, please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484 or book online at covid19appointment.nt.gov.au.

If you travelled on QF778 and are seeking further information please call the COVID-19 hotline.

COVID-19 hotline operating hours have been extended and staffing capacity has been increased to meet demand.

Chief Health Officer Dr Charles Pain said he regretted “any disruption to travel plans”.

“I ... would encourage anyone who is planning to travel domestically to, or from, the Territory to keep informed about any directions that may affect your plans,” he said.

“While we are clearly able to travel more freely in Australia in recent weeks, we can anticipate the occasional need to restrict travel to protect against outbreaks in the community.”

Follow @PhillippaButt

Originally published as Melbourne Airport travellers to be tested in the Northern Territory