First group of hotspot travellers allowed out of enforced Northern Territory quarantine

THE first group of 40 people undertaking enforced quarantine since the Territory brought in hotspot restrictions has been allowed out after completing their 14-day lockdowns

The first group of people undertaking enforced quarantine since the Territory brought in coronavirus hotspot restrictions has been allowed out. Picture: Emma Murray

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THE first group of 40 people undertaking enforced quarantine since the Territory brought in coronavirus hotspot restrictions was allowed out on Friday after completing their 14-day lockdowns in Alice Springs.

Braitling MP Dale Wakefield said 99 people were in mandatory quarantine at an Alice Springs hotel on Thursday, and 59 remain there after the first group who crossed the NT border from hot spots on July 17 were released on Friday.

Police, the Health Department and Territory Families have secured and are controlling the whole site at an Alice Springs hotel for mandatory quarantine.

“We have a number of rooms secured there for people to go into secure quarantine,” Ms Wakefield said.

Member for Braitling Dale Wakefield. Picture: Emma Murray

Those entering the NT from hotspots via planes will be met at the airport by health and Territory Family staff who will then identify and transport them to the site.

“We’ve been able to also provide welfare support and emotional support as well as making sure people are getting what they need, providing food as well as any other goods they might need during that time,” Ms Wakefield said.

“We have had the public health officer down last week to review to make sure that we are meeting all of those standards and evolving, and they are very happy with the way it is happening now in Alice Springs, in particular with securing the whole site, making sure that staff within the hospitals and in the hotel setting are well trained.

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“So we are very comfortable that we have got the best process in place to keep the people safe.”

Ms Wakefield said the majority of those in quarantine were mainly people returning to the NT who live here, or people coming for work, including relocating from other places to take specialist jobs.

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