Masks must be worn during your one hour of exercise, says Chief Minister Michael Gunner

Masks must be worn while exercising in public during the snap 72-hour lockdown, Chief Minister Michael Gunner has warned.

Darwin residents have been warned to wear masks correctly when in public during the Covid-19 lockdown. Picture: AFP

MASKS must be worn while exercising in public during the snap 72-hour lockdown, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.

Mr Gunner said it was possible to exercise ‘vigourously’ while wearing a mask.

“If you leave your place of residence for one of the five reasons, you must wear a mask. That includes exercise.

“Don’t tell me you need to vigorously exercise without a mask.

“Take a break from the burpees and the sprints for a couple of days. Take a walk instead. Wear your mask.

“We should all know how this works, and if there is a deliberate non compliance, if Mitchell St starts looking like Bondi, police will come down hard on it.”

Territorians have been warned to wear masks properly as the Greater Darwin and Katherine areas enter a three-day lockdown.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said all residents must wear a mask when in public, and have them secured around their faces.

“If you wear a mask, make sure that you wear it. Don’t have it hanging off your chin.

“If you’re in a public place, it’s there for your protection, and the protection of others,” he said.

“If you don’t wear a mask, and you have a bona fide excuse, the chief health officer expects that you will be able to provide medical evidence of that, and hence the authorised officers will ask you. You will not have a defence if you say I don’t need to share that with you.”

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“I hasten to add that if you’ve got a bona fide reason, then it’s highly probable that you will be one of the more susceptible people to Covid, if you get it.

“So if you (need) protection, stay at home. If you cannot wear a mask when you go out, stay at home.”

He said Katherine residents should also heed the message and make sure they wear a mask.

“We cannot have people non-compliant. It wastes everybody’s time.”

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“We do not want to see an extension of this (lockdown) if it can be avoided, and the greatest way it can be avoided, is by your compliance.”