More than 3800 in the NT asked to self-isolate after NSW outbreak

MORE than 3800 people in the NT who visited Sydney have been ordered to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19

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MORE than 3800 people in the Northern Territory who have recently been in Sydney have been ordered to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19 amid fears the deadly virus has been spreading across NSW’s capital.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles has urged anyone who has travelled to the NT from Sydney since December 11 to immediately self-isolate and get a COVID-19 test.

The NT government’s contact tracing team has been assessing border entry forms and identified more than 3800 people that have arrived from Sydney over that period.

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The Territory’s dedicated COVID-19 hotlines were swamped with thousands of calls on Sunday and Monday, with some frustrated callers waiting hours to speak to an operator.

Ms Fyles said they had increased staff and extended hotline operating hours to cope with the high volume of calls.

“We’ve essentially doubled the pandemic clinic at the Royal Darwin Hospital’s capacity, and I’m advised that the lab can do 600-700 tests a day,” she said.

Ms Fyles said if someone currently in self-isolation in the NT tested positive to COVID-19, their close or casual contacts would be identified and asked to self-isolate and get tested.

It comes after Sydney’s Northern Beaches coronavirus cluster grew to 83 yesterday, spreading across the city with cases recorded in the CBD, north shore and inner-west.

Those who managed to get a flight back to Sydney at the Darwin airport on Monday afternoon. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford.

The outbreak pushed the Northern Territory government to slam its border shut to Greater Sydney, the NSW Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Illawarra from 3pm on Sunday. It came as a nasty shock to 140 travellers who arrived from Sydney on Sunday afternoon and were placed in quarantine.

“We know that this is extremely upsetting, this is difficult and it being so close to Christmas adds to that burden,” Ms Fyles said.

“We will of course work with individuals around their circumstances, upholding those health directions and principles, to make it as easy as possible.”

An NT Health spokeswoman said 64 of the arrivals decided to return on a Qantas flight to Sydney yesterday afternoon, with more expected to also leave today.

The spokeswoman said it was still too early to say how much those tickets were expected to cost Northern Territory taxpayers.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said she had no reason to doubt the recent decision made by the Northern Territory’s public health officials.

“This hot spot declaration does, however, put many Territorians and their families in the very sad position of being separated from loved ones over Christmas,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

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“Last time a hot spot was declared, we saw the Gunner government scrambling to come up with a plan while travellers, public servants and emergency personnel were forced to make do without adequate resources or leadership.

“The people caught up in this situation, separated from loved ones over Christmas, deserve better this time around.”

Ms Fyles confirmed yesterday that Chief Minister Michael Gunner had phoned in to weigh in on Sunday’s hot spot decision, despite being on holidays with his family in Queensland.

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