Brisbane arrivals unleashed from Howard Springs and Alice Springs quarantine facilities
Travellers who have been stuck for up to a fortnight in Howard Springs dongas have been freed, after Brisbane and Moreton Bay’s hot spot status was revoked.
Northern Territory
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- NT removes hotspot status for Brisbane, concerns growing around Sydney outbreak
- INFO HERE: List of Queensland public exposure sites and what to do if you visited them
THERE were cries of jubilation as returned travellers from the last remaining Queensland hot spots were released from Howard Springs and Alice Springs’ quarantine facilities on Sunday afternoon.
A conga line of liberated locals were spotted leaving the facility after 5pm, some of which had been inside for almost two weeks.
It came after chief health officer Dr Hugh Heggie revoked the hotspot status of Brisbane City and Moreton Bay LGAs.
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Among those jumping for joy was Emily Wilson, who was among the first to leave after a 12-day stint.
“Insane, I can’t stop smiling,” Ms Wilson said about how she felt leaving quarantine.
“I’ve been thinking about this moment for the past 12 days.”
Ms Wilson, a Territory local, said she had tried to get back from southeast Queensland before it was designated a hotspot but was snagged.
“Changed our flights to try avoid quarantine but still went into quarantine,” she said.
The Queensland hot spots were first declared on June 29, following fears of a Covid-19 outbreak.
The release is cold comfort for travellers who have returned from Greater Sydney, who are the only hot spots remaining for the NT still in effect.
Anyone released from Howard Springs from Brisbane was checked against remaining exposure site declarations to ensure they weren’t a risk.
Travellers who enter from Queensland are being advised by NT Health to check Queensland Health’s exposure site list, with some venues deemed high-risk still requiring 14 days mandatory quarantine at Howard Springs.
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