Home quarantine candidates unable to enter residences on first day

The NT government still won’t say how many people are now quarantining at home as part of a trial, two days after it started.

UPDATED: THE Northern Territory government has again refused to say which suburbs and how many people are right now participating in its first home quarantine trial in Darwin.

All the Chief Minister Michael Gunner was willing to say was that the participants were “in the Darwin (local government area)”, and that he would provide an update in a month. But in an apparent change of tack, Mr Gunner on Wednesday said arrivals into Darwin who qualified for home quarantine would be able to take a Covid taxi to their place of residence.

Responses to questions from the NT News on Tuesday suggested “taxis or Ubers” could be used for transport.

Territorians will be able to quarantine at home if they meet all the criteria. Picture: GLENN CAMPBELL

Mr Gunner‘s office on Wednesday clarified only dedicated Covid taxis could be used at the expense of the user.

People who were eligible for home quarantine could also use their own private vehicle or get a lift with a fully-vaccinated person who was also being tested.

The Emergency Operations Centre were on Wednesday understood to be identifying returning Territorians eligible for home quarantine, using border control forms.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announcing CHO directions for mandatory vaccinations. Picture Julianne Osborne

Mr Gunner said the trial commenced on Tuesday but was unwilling to give specific suburbs where residents were staying.

“People are in home quarantine in the Darwin LGA,” Mr Gunner said. “We will provide an update on the program at the end of November.”

The home quarantine trial, announced on Monday, will involve 100 fully vaccinated Darwin residents who can safely isolate at home.

A second trial based in Alice Springs will commence next Monday with 30 participants.

If successful, home quarantine for a fortnight will commence for all areas of the NT where vaccination rates have exceeded 80 per cent from late November. Quarantine could be shortened to a week in December.

EARLIER: THE Territory’s first home quarantine pilot hit a snag on its first day, with the chosen participants unable to enter their residences until NT Health clears them of Covid-19.

It’s led the opposition to accuse the government of developing the home quarantine scheme “on the fly”.

It can also be revealed that returning Territorians eligible for the scheme are allowed to catch Ubers or taxis to their places of residence from the airport.

It comes after Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the first home quarantine trial, to be comprised of 100 Darwin residents who are returning from interstate hotspots.

As a requirement of the pilot, candidates must test negative to Covid-19 72 hours before arriving in the Territory.

Because the trial started just a day after being announced, Mr Gunner’s office on Tuesday night said home quarantine candidates were being tested by NT Health prior to entering home isolation.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner, alongside CHO Dr Hugh Heggie. Picture: Che Chorley

It was unclear where the candidates were being housed while they awaited their results.

“Returning Territorians who meet the criteria are being identified and contacted. This has been happening since yesterday,” Mr Gunner said.

“Our teams are testing people to ensure they return a negative result before entering the home quarantine pilot, as per the requirements.”

That’s despite a release from the NT government, put out shortly after Mr Gunner’s announcement on Monday, stating they needed to be tested prior to entering the Territory.

The NT News on Tuesday also sought information on which suburbs in Darwin were hosting participants in the trial but did not receive an answer.

There was also no details provided on how NT Health were selecting candidates for the trial.

It is unclear whether existing arrivals quarantining in Howard Springs would also be allowed to leave to spend the rest of their stay at home.

Shadow Minister for Health Bill Yan said he had concerns about the program being done “on the fly”. Picture: Che Chorley

CLP health spokesman Bill Yan said he had concerns that no one had been lined up to enter home quarantine on the first day of the pilot.

“The last thing Territorians need is changes to quarantine arrangements done on the fly for political purposes,” Mr Yan said.

“Territorians need certainty and the fact the Gunner Government doesn’t have a single person lined up to take part in its trial is just not good enough.”

Mr Yan also criticised the government’s road map out of Covid-19 border restrictions as lacking detail, saying Territorians couldn’t plan trips away.

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