Restrictions on ‘outdoor activities’ could be lifted in NT in time for long weekend: Chief Minister

RESTRICTIONS on outdoor activities could be lifted as soon as next weekend under Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s nation-leading coronavirus lockdown exit plan

RESTRICTIONS on outdoor activities could be lifted as soon as next weekend under Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s nation-leading coronavirus lockdown exit plan.

The NT News can reveal extra detail of what a “new normal” dry season could look like for Territorians with a plan to be released as soon as tomorrow (Monday).

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It is understood outdoor activities could be allowed first, just in time for the May Day long weekend.

Mr Gunner on Saturday revealed his “business before borders” strategy to reopen the NT, with businesses expected to come online from the end of May.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner will soon reveal extra detail of what a “new normal” dry season could look like for Territorians. Picture: Che Chorley

But Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Ireland called the timeline “conservative” and said while he understood the Government needed to take “all due care”, businesses would prefer to reopen as soon as the Territory notched 28 consecutive days without a single new case of COVID-19.

It will be three weeks on Monday since the NT’s last confirmed case.

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Mr Gunner will meet with Mr Ireland and his chamber colleague Karen Sheldon on Monday to discuss how business can reopen safely.

“I’m continuing to take (the Chamber of Commerce’s) advice. We both agree we need to do this once and do it right,” Mr Gunner said.

“The threat of corona remains real – we don’t have a vaccine yet and we must not relax our guard.

“I have done whatever it takes to make the Territory the safest place in Australia. The mission now is to keep it that way.”

How great is the outdoors in the NT? Elevated view of the Darwin skyline, high-rise buildings and the botanical gardens from Darwin High School.

The “gradual easing of restrictions” will come with specific conditions, like a limit on the number of people in an establishment and strict cleaning protocols.

The NT Government will put in place rapid response measures to “test, trace and trap” future outbreaks of COVID-19, with plans to significantly ramp up testing and contact tracing.

If the Territory successfully exits lockdown without sparking a surge in cases, it will be the first jurisdiction in the world to do so.

Of the Territory’s 28 cases, 20 have since recovered, while 347 people remain in forced quarantined and a total of 42 fines have been dished out to those who have breached lockdown rules.

Australia’s COVID-19 death toll rose to 80 yesterday (Saturday), after a 90-year-old Tasmanian man became the 10th death in that state.