BLOCKED: Another nine travellers refused entry NT from Covid-19 hotspots
Another nine people who tried to enter the NT from Covid-19 hotspots have been refused entry after 15 people were blocked from entering through Darwin Airport on Monday.
Northern Territory
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A TOTAL of 24 people who travelled to the NT from COVID-19 hotspots this week have been refused entry since the Territory government banned non approved travel on Monday.
The Northern Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said another nine people who travelled to the NT from Covid-19 hotspots on Tuesday have been refused entry after 15 people were blocked from entering at Darwin Airport on Monday.
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Mr Chalker said travellers will be required to pay for their own return flight and could also be issued a fine for breaching public health orders of more than $5000.
“There’s potentially nine people who will be sent home today. Some already went home yesterday,” Commissioner Chalker told ABC Darwin on Tuesday.
“Nobody should be getting on a plane who is a non-Territory resident without going through the appropriate approval process.
“It’s clearly defined on coronavirusnt.gov.au website. It has adequate links that point people into what the relevant exemption areas are.”
On Sunday Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced on Sunday from August 9, people entering the Northern Territory must complete an exemption form and receive approval if they have been in a current declared Covid-19 hotspot or public exposure site in the 14-days prior to arrival in the Northern Territory.
He said travellers were taking advantage of the Howard Springs quarantine facility to gain entry into other states, which is set to hit 3000 by the end of the week.
Mr Gunner said it was no longer tenable to allow all domestic travellers to visit quarantine.
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