Northern Territory arrivals from interstate to go into enforced 14-day hotel quarantine now too

THE Territory Government has toughened its border controls again, now also forcing interstate travellers into hotel quarantine for 14 days too

The Territory Government will toughen its border controls again, forcing non-essential interstate travellers into quarantine for 14 days

THE Territory Government has toughened its border controls again, now forcing all non-essential interstate travellers into quarantine for 14 days too.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the new restrictions today, with the measures to be implemented later this week.

It means all people travelling into the Territory from interstate will be forced into a designated hotel for two weeks, ensuring they are clear of coronavirus before they return to their homes or move around the Territory.

“I have now formed the view that the threat that the rest of Australia poses to the Northern Territory is too great,” Mr Gunner said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner will provide an update about coronavirus restrictions in the NT.

Posted by The NT News on Sunday, 29 March 2020

“From midnight on Wednesday people entering the Territory from interstate, including Territorians returning home, will be required to spend 14 days in forced quarantine, not self-quarantine.

“That means if you come from Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, from anywhere, you will be directed straight to a hotel that is secured by us and guarded by us and you will stay in your room for 14 days.”

Those who don’t make it back by midnight on Friday will be forced to pay for their own accommodation.

“From midnight on Friday, if you still insist on coming to the Territory either from overseas or interstate you will go into forced quarantine but we will not be paying the bill,” Mr Gunner said.

“You will be made to stay where we tell you to stay, but you will be paying for it, not us. We have given you enough notice.”

Mr Gunner said the clear message to people was to stay away from the NT.

“If you are starting to think I don’t want you here, you’re right. Do not come here, we do not want you here. Sorry, but not right now,” he said.

“When all of this is over, please come to the Territory, it’s the greatest place on earth and we’d be happy to have you … but not right now.”

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The Chief Minister said he wanted to go further with border controls, but had been constrained by legal issues.

“To those who say just close the borders completely, frankly that’s what I’d like to do and if I had the powers I’d do it right now, but we are at the very limit of what legally we can do,” he said.

“We are drawing a red line around the Territory and we are saying to interstaters in the east, south and west, do not cross this line.”

There are currently 16 people in enforced hotel quarantine now who arrived in the Territory from overseas.

Mr Gunner said he expected the number of people coming to the NT to dramatically drop when the new rules come into force at the end of the week.

In the last 24 hours, 300 people crossed the Territory’s borders.