NT government declares Perth and parts of WA hot spots after COVID-19 leaks from hotel quarantine
Perth and other parts of WA have been declared COVID-19 hot spots by the NT government, with all travellers entering the Territory required to go into mandatory quarantine.
Northern Territory
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PERTH and surrounding regions have been declared COVID-19 hot spots by the NT government, with all travellers entering the Territory from 7.30pm ACST on Sunday required to go into mandatory quarantine.
It comes after WA Premier Mark McGowan announced a five-day hard lockdown in light of a hotel quarantine worker testing positive for coronavirus.
Travellers from the Perth, Peel and South West regions who come into the NT from 7.30pm ACST on Sunday must go into 14 days of quarantine in facilities in Darwin or Alice Springs at a cost of $2500 per person.
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Further, anyone who has arrived in the NT from the Perth, Peel and South West regions since January 25 must get a COVID-19 test and immediately self-isolate.
Health authorities confirmed all travellers who landed in Alice Springs from Perth at 1pm on Sunday afternoon had not been in any of the declared hot spots.
That same flight continued on to Darwin and passengers who were from a hot spot have been informed by health authorities to self-isolate and get tested.
The penalty for not following a chief health officer direction in the NT is $5,056 for an individual and $25,280 for a business
“There is the potential for the positive hotel quarantine case in WA to be a highly contagious mutant strain of the virus. For this reason, we are taking swift action while we wait and see what happens in Western Australia over their lockdown period,” chief health officer Dr Hugh Heggie said.
“I will be monitoring the situation in WA closely and will continue to take all appropriate actions to protect the health and safety of Territorians.”
Chief Minister Michael Gunner apologised for the “disruption” but said the NT “cannot take any chances” with the virus.
“It’s getting more contagious, not less. And that means we need to be more vigilant than ever. We will keep doing whatever it takes to protect the Territory,” Mr Gunner said.
“As always, we are making decisions as quickly as we can, and going as hard as we can.
“Our public health team will continue working tonight and we will provide another update (on Monday morning).”
A Qantas flight is scheduled to arrive in Darwin at 12.30pm on Monday while a Virgin flight is expected to arrive at 2.45pm.
WA Premier Mark McGowan held an emergency press conference on Sunday afternoon, revealing a male security guard aged in his 20s had been working at Sheraton Four Points in the CBD.
There were two cases of the UK variant and one of the South African variant in the area where he was working.
He had tested negative on January 15, 17 and 23 but developed symptoms on Thursday.
“Exactly how the infection was acquired remains under investigation,” Mr McGowan said.
The whole Perth metro area will enter a five-day lockdown from 6pm on Sunday after COVID-19 was detected in the community for the first time in almost ten months.
The lockdown applies to the Perth, Peel and South West regions.
A host of businesses, venues and organisations have been ordered to close, including pubs, bars and clubs, gyms and indoor sports, playgrounds and skate parks, the casino, and places of worship.
Restaurants and cafes will only be open for takeaway.
Weddings have been cancelled and funerals will be limited to 10 people. No visitors are allowed in aged care homes and hospitals unless there are “exceptional circumstances”.
LONG LIST OF POTENTIAL WA EXPOSURE SITES
January 25: Coles Maylands supermarket between 8pm and 10pm.
January 27: KFC Maylands from 6pm to midnight.
January 27: Mitsubishi motors car dealership in Midland from 7pm to close.
January 27: Spud Shed, Coventry Village, 8pm to midnight.
January 28: ECU Joondalup from 11am to 2pm
January 28: The Consulate general of India on Saint Georges Terrace in Perth from 12pm to 5pm.
January 28: Halal Grocery Store in Cloverdale from 7pm to 9pm.
January 29: Venus Ladies and Gentlemen Hair Design in Maylands from 1pm to 3pm.
January 29: Perth Convention Centre from 4pm to 6pm
January 29: Nedlands family practice GP surgery from 5pm to 6pm
January 29: Chemist Warehouse in North Perth pharmacy, from January 29 from 530pm to 7:30pm.
January 29: 7-11 Ascot petrol station from 8pm to 9pm.
January 29: Paul’s Maylands supermarket from 8pm until 9pm
January 30: Coles Express Shell Service Station in Cloverdale 12pm to 3pm.
January 30: The Puma service Station from 11am to 12pm
January 30: Coles Express Shell Service Station in Cloverdale from 12pm until 3pm.
January 30: Pharmacy 777 at Maylands Park shopping centre from 2.30pm to 4pm.