‘Don’t stuff this up’: Territorians told to keep social distance or risk longer virus restrictions

TERRITORIANS filling up Darwin’s beaches and foreshores to stretch their legs amid the coronavirus shutdown are being asked not to ‘stuff this up for everyone else’

Nightcliff foreshore is becoming increasingly busy again with families and groups exercising on bikes, scooters and walks despite the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: Che Chorley

TERRITORIANS filling up Darwin’s beaches and foreshores to stretch their legs amid the coronavirus shutdown are being asked not to “stuff this up for everyone else”.

Nightcliff foreshore was bustling on the weekend, with dog-walkers, cyclists, and families leaving little room to properly keep 1.5 metres away from each other.

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Chief Minister Michael Gunner is giving an update on elective surgery restrictions in the NT and what is set to happen on Friday when Parliament sits again.

Posted by The NT News on Monday, 20 April 2020

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he encouraged people going outside to exercise but warned there was no room for complacency, especially if Territorians wanted restrictions lifted in the Top End before anywhere else.

“We are essentially on a path to do a scale back and we will probably be nation leading when we do it, let’s not stuff that up,” he said.

Mr Gunner yesterday (Tuesday) asked Territorians to be patient and again flagged that coronavirus restrictions could be peeled back from mid-May.

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“This is like the grand final. We are only at half time. We are in front but it’s far from over and it’s far too early to start celebrating, so please hang in there, stay safe, stick together and we can see this through,” he said.

“I know there will be some people who jump up and down saying all of this has been too extreme, that it’s not needed, that it’s taking too long.”

The NT has notched 15 days of zero new coronavirus cases, more than any other jurisdiction in the country, and authorities continue to crack down on those flouting the virus restrictions.

A total of 42 fines have been dished out to those who have broken mandatory quarantine rules or held illegal gatherings in their homes.