More incoming SA travellers told to quarantine with two flights from Adelaide landing at Alice Springs Airport

TWO flights from Adelaide have touched down in Alice Springs after the NT closed its borders to South Australia with immediate effect

• Adelaide-Darwin travellers told midair they have to quarantine, as the NT reintroduces border restrictions for SA
• NT brings in mandatory quarantine for travellers from South Australia residents after cluster outbreak

UPDATE 5pm: TWO flights from Adelaide have landed in Alice Springs following NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s declaration that all of South Australia is to be considered a COVID hotspot effective immediately.

The two flights, operated by Virgin Australia and Qantas, touched down mid afternoon Monday following a short delay.

The NT News is currently seeking clarification on exact passenger numbers but Qantas and Virgin flights operating on this route use the 174-seat Boeing 737.

However a passenger who was aboard the Virgin flight, said there was only a fraction of that.

“When I hopped on the plane I thought, ‘You’re kidding’. There were barely 30 people, maybe 40,” Jeff said.

News of the South Australian outbreak has again raised concerns for vulnerable populations, such as the Mutitjulu Aboriginal community near Uluru.

“People are a little bit worried again,” said Thalia Bohl-van den Boogaard, CEO of the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation.

“The community is hoping that tourists who want to come to the NT do the right thing. We hope tourists coming into Yulara and wanting to visit the park will put community ahead of their holiday plans.”

However, Ms Bohl-van den Boogaard also acknowledged that interstate travel and tourism is a fact of life.

“I think we’re gonna have to learn to live with COVID so completely banning flights forever isn’t the answer but the quarantine measures have to be put in place very stringently.

“Without exceptions, people should have to undertake quarantine. There shouldn’t be exceptions for tradies or other people deemed as essential services.”

EARLIER: TWO flights from Adelaide are due to touch down in Alice Springs on Monday afternoon.

QF858 and VA1741 are scheduled to arrive within half an hour of each other.

Following Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s announcement this morning that South

Australia will become an immediate hot spot, passengers will have the choice to quarantine for 14 days or return to Adelaide.

CENTRALIAN ADVOCATE digital subscription offer: Full digital access for just $1 a week for the first 12 weeks

Those who choose to quarantine will not incur the $2500 quarantine cost.

South Australia is currently dealing with its worst COVID-19 cluster so far, with 17 new cases.

MORE TO COME.

[e-mail]

[e-mail]

Follow @jasmineaburke