More than 10,000 flock into NT in single week after borders reopen, with 298 now in supervised quarantine

More than 10,000 people have flocked into the NT since borders reopened last week, with hundreds of travellers put into supervised mandatory quarantine.

MORE than 10,000 people have flocked into the NT since borders reopened last week, with hundreds of travellers put into supervised mandatory quarantine.

NT authorities confirmed 10,895 people had entered the Territory by road and air since July 17 – an average of 1556 a day.

As of 9am on Friday a total of 298 people had been put into mandatory supervised quarantine, with 229 travellers housed at the disused Inpex workers camp at Howard Springs and 69 holed up in Alice Springs hotels.

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Hospitality NT boss Alex Bruce said increasing tourism numbers had brought positivity back in places like Alice Springs but the loss of airline capacity and the reintroduction of restrictions in neighbouring Queensland were of concern.

Queensland yesterday brought back pub restrictions, forcing patrons to be seated to prevent mingling.

“Every additional change for the regulations in the country dampens the mood a little bit,” Mr Bruce said.

“Because potentially we are a case or two away from things being shut down again.”

Semi-retired Adelaide couple Tammy and Phil Turner are among the tourists that have taken advantage of NT’s open borders, coming up to Darwin for a quick holiday.

Tourists Phil and Tammy Turner from Adelaide out and about in Darwin. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

Tasmanians escaping the cold could soon be among the NT’s tourists, with the state opening a “safe travel bubble” between itself, the NT, South Australia and Western Australia from August 7.

It comes as Victoria recorded 300 new coronavirus cases yesterday and six more deaths, all of whom were living in aged care and aged in their 80s and 90s.

Since July 17, the same date NT opened its borders, Victoria has recorded 2240 coronavirus cases and 22 deaths.

New South Wales yesterday recorded seven new coronavirus cases.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed after yesterday’s national cabinet meeting that a national freight movement protocol – which would put new rules on truck drivers moving across borders, including how often they’re tested for coronavirus – is expected to be finalised in coming days.