Chances slim of early lift of coronavirus restrictions in the NT

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner says there is a chance strict lockdown measures could be lifted sooner in the Northern Territory than in other states, but has warned Territorians not to get their hopes up.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner says there is a chance strict lockdown measures could be lifted sooner in the Northern Territory than in other states, but has warned Territorians not to get their hopes up. Picture: Glenn Campbell

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner says there is a chance strict lockdown measures could be lifted sooner in the Northern Territory than in other states, but has warned Territorians not to get their hopes up.

The NT and the ACT are the only jurisdictions in the country with no evidence of community transmission.

And with the Territory’s borders now locked down, there have been calls for the strict measures that have forced business to close to be eased if case numbers can be kept under control.

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But Mr Gunner said people should be prepared for the restrictions to remain for six months.

“I want to be really careful we don’t get complacent,” he said.

“If we were to lift those restrictions too early we could be the ones doing harm to ourselves.

“I think we’ve got to be very careful here, we’ve got to take health advice and I’ve taken health advice all the way through this.

“There is a chance that if we do this right, if we nail it, that we could do that earlier than other places, but I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up out there. We’re in for a six-month long haul here.”

The Territory recorded two new cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 21.