Arrivals from Dili become first into forced hotel quarantine in NT

THERE were mixed reactions as the nation’s first group of international arrivals to be forced into hotel quarantine arrived in Darwin

Passengers were escorted by bus to the hotel they’ll be quarantining in after arriving into Darwin from Dili. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

THERE were mixed reactions as the nation’s first group of international arrivals to be forced into hotel quarantine arrived in Darwin.

All wearing masks, 16 passengers disembarked from TL513 from Dili at about 11.20am before spending about an hour going through immigration, bag collection and customs.

ALL new Northern Territory arrivals to be sent to hotel lock-up to self-isolate for 14 days

It was within the international terminal of Darwin airport that they were screened for symptoms of coronavirus, including an interview with border control officers.

It’s not known whether each passenger’s temperature was taken — a procedure done on the East Coast earlier this week to mixed reactions with confusion over lines and whether the results were accurate being blamed.

From there, they were led onto buses waiting on the tarmac which took them to Eaton’s Mecure Darwin Airport Resort.

Passengers from this morning’s Dili to Darwin flight arrive at the Mercure Hotel in Eaton, where they are set to spend the next 14 days in quarantine according to new government regulations #coronavirus @TheNTNews pic.twitter.com/tRs1PZdUnd

— Will Zwar (@zwar_w) March 28, 2020

While on the tarmac, some passengers waved to the media, glad to be back on home soil, while others hid their faces behind their masks and baggage trolleys.

The group will remain in isolation in their individual hotel rooms for the next 14 days, undergoing regular monitoring for any health concerns.

INTERSTATE arrivals should also be put in forced quarantine, Territorians say

While national quarantine regulations didn’t start until last night, Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Friday said the Territory would bring in the quarantine measures immediately.

“This is about making sure people are being secured and monitored in their quarantine,” he said.

“We will be securing rooms so we can detain people in them, this will be done at a rate that is low (as) I am mindful about the Territory tax payer.”

In response to the mandatory quarantine regulations and in response to the coronavirus pandemic, NT Airports have implemented a number of measures to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria and maximise social distancing.

The upstairs departure floor in Darwin airport is now limited to passengers with a boarding pass only, with exceptions to staff, contractors and visitors with special needs, while cleaning in all areas of the terminal has tripled.

Passengers are also being encouraged to arrange for private transport where possible, or to take other precautions such as sitting in the back of a taxi and wearing a face mask where possible.

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An earlier flight from Denpasar to Darwin, due to land at 5am was cancelled, while a flight from Singapore to Darwin landed at 4.45am however no passengers were on the flight.