Frisky Territorians warned to take precautions when mingling with Marines

DARWINITES are rejoicing at the fact that hundreds of US Marines have arrived in town and are looking to mingle, with a number of them already being spotted on dating apps. However health authorities are still warning frisky Territorians to take precautions before breaking social distancing regulations with Marines.

Hundreds of US Marines have arrived in Darwin and a number of them have already been spotted on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble. Picture: Glenn Campbell

DARWINITES are rejoicing at the fact that hundreds of US Marines have arrived in town and are looking to mingle, with a number of them already being spotted on dating apps like Tinder and Bumble.

The first group of 200 US Marines who arrived in Darwin on June 2 as a part of a slimmed down version of the annual Marine Rotational Force military exercise in the Top End ended their mandatory 14-day quarantine earlier this week.

All 200 of them tested negative for COVID-19 during their initial swab.

However, health authorities are still warning frisky Territorians to take precautions before breaking social distancing regulations with Marines.

Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council executive director Genevieve Dally said people should consider engaging with people they meet online virtually rather than physically.

“A lot of apps, particularly Tinder and Scruff are really active in their health promotion messaging. They’re really encouraging people to engage online via video link (instead of in person),” she said.

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However, Ms Dally said people would still want to meet up in person, and should take extra precautions if they planned on doing so.

“There’s a lot to be said for the issues with social isolation, so if people are going to engage in casual sex (it’s important to) understand where someone’s been in the last two weeks, know about any symptoms they might have that could be associated with COVID,” Ms Dally said.

“And obviously using condoms which we promote anyway.”

Australian Medical Association NT president Dr Robert Parker said there was a “relatively low risk” from mingling with Marines, as long as they had completed their mandatory quarantine.

“As long as they do the quarantine before going out and having deep and meaningful connections with strangers and there’s no signs of emerging COVID … I think it’s a very low risk,” Dr Parker said.

“They’re unlikely to practise social distancing in their deep and meaningful interactions with people in Darwin.”

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A spokeswoman for Bumble said COVID-19 has resulted in people spending more time connecting online.

“People that match on Bumble are talking for longer and connecting on a deeper level than before,” she said.