Nearly 3 travellers a minute coming into NT as borders reopen for first time in four months
A TOTAL of 685 people crossed the border into the Northern Territory in the four hours to 9am as borders reopened today, NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has revealed
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A TOTAL of 685 people crossed the border into the Northern Territory between 5am and 9am as the Territory’s borders reopened today, NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has revealed.
Eleven were put into supervised mandatory quarantine by 5am as NT authorities crack down on people coming in from hotspot areas like Victoria and greater metropolitan Sydney.
It comes as the NT Government announced coronavirus safety rule-breakers would now be slapped with fines of more than $5000 under tough new rules to coincide with the reopening or borders.
Effective immediately NT Police will be able to slap self-quarantine breachers with fines of $5056, up from $1106.
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Mr Chalker revealed one person, a 25-year-old Queensland man, had already been slapped with the beefed up version of the fine after being caught breaching self-quarantine rules last night.
Chief Health Office Dr Hugh Heggie also doubled down on his stern warning to Territorians that coronavirus remained a real and ongoing threat and it was up to the community to keep up social distancing and hygiene to stay safe.
“You can see what happens around the world, so much harm done so many lives lost,” he said.
“One in 100 people will lose their lives.
“The ongoing possible effects of this virus on even young people that might change and damage heart and lungs.”
Dr Heggie said Territorians needed to maintain 1.5 metres of distance for people that aren’t in their usual social circle.
If people are unwell, get tested.
From today all arrivals from Victoria or greater metropolitan Sydney into the Top End will be forced into supervised mandatory quarantine at Howard Springs.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Di Stephens said Howard Springs had been stood up for an unknown number of arrivals.
“We are focusing on getting people safely from the airport to Howard Springs and into quarantine without any transmission of the virus,” she said.
“That’s our prime objective now, is community safety and keeping the NT safe.”
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Dr Heggie assured the community that the NT was ready to deal with and shut down any coronavirus cluster that may pop up.
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