‘It worries me too’: Chief Minister Michael Gunner tries to calm Territorians on border safety as Victorian COVID-19 cases spike

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has sought to quell Territorians’ concerns about the reopening of NT’s borders amid a significant spike in coronavirus cases in Victoria.

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner has sought to quell Territorians’ concerns about the reopening of NT’s borders amid a significant spike in coronavirus cases in Victoria.

Mr Gunner, taking aim at “reckless calls” from those who want to open the borders straight away, said he understood the opening of the borders on July 17 was worrying “a lot of Territorians”.

“I get it. It worries me too. It’s a big step,” he said.

“A lot of the concern comes from what is happening in Victoria right now.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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“I want to remind Territorians – this is why we waited.

“We built in a four-week buffer – two full replication cycles of the virus – to be absolutely sure this transition can be done safely. So other states can get on top of things, and so we can be fully prepared.”

Travellers from declared hot spots will be forced into two weeks’ quarantine should they decided to come to the NT, though the government has made it clear people who came from COVID-19 outbreak areas were not welcome here.

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Victoria recorded 75 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, in one of the highest single days of community transmitted cases in the state since the start of the pandemic.