Chamber of Commerce calls for businesses to be able to reopen within weeks if no new coronavirus cases emerge in the NT

THE NT’S Chamber of Commerce boss has called on the Gunner Government to allow businesses to begin reopening in as little as three weeks, as Monday marked a week without any new COVID-19 cases in the Territory.

The NT’S Chamber of Commerce boss has called on the Gunner Government to allow businesses to begin reopening in as little as three weeks, as Monday marked a week without any new COVID-19 cases in the Territory. Pictured is Darwin’s Kopi Stop owner Jules Mou at her makeshift takeaway-only coffee stall, set up after the rollout of social distancing restrictions on cafes. Picture: Che Chorley

THE NT’S Chamber of Commerce boss has called on the Gunner Government to allow businesses to begin reopening in as little as three weeks, as Monday marked a week without any new COVID-19 cases in the Territory.

Chamber of Commerce interim chief executive Greg Ireland said the NT was in a good position for business to bounce back before other parts of Australia.

“We’re in very early stage discussions with governments to say that, as long as health guidelines are complied with, business could get up and running again sooner rather than later,” he said.

“If we haven’t had any new cases for two or three weeks, we can comfortably say it (COVID-19) is not in the general community.”

He said he would like to see trade resume within three weeks if there continued to be no community transmission of the virus.

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“As long as health authorities say it’s okay, I think with the two weeks incubation period for the virus and if we were to have another week to add a safety margin on to that, Mr Ireland said.

“That would see us starting to trade much sooner than any other state or territory.”

Mr Ireland said the Government should consider a gradual approach to allowing businesses to reopen.

“We understand that it is a risk, but it could be done in stages for example,” he said.

“If we can open up gyms, some tourism activities, open some restaurants but still keep social distancing measures in place.

“That will help business to get some activity and get some more dollars flowing.”

However, Chief Minister Michael Gunner told the NT News it was “too early to talk about lifting restrictions”.

“The threat is still very real. I will not give Territorians false hope that this can be over in a few weeks,” he said.

“We’re the safest place in Australia because we took this seriously early and stayed ahead of the game, and I intend to keep it that way.”

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Mr Gunner said on April 3 that the Government had been “working to a six-month timeline” on COVID-19 restrictions.