Queenslanders enjoy the Territory soil after Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, taken off hotspots list

TERRITORIANS and visit­ors arriving at Darwin Airport yesterday from recently revoked hot spots were relieved to be free on Top End soil

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TERRITORIANS and visit­ors arriving at Darwin Airport yesterday from recently revoked hot spots were relieved to be free on Top End soil, rather than paying their way through a $2500 two-week quarantine.

After Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan council areas were taken off the NT’s declared hot-spot list on Friday evening, Abbie Burke took the opportunity to book a flight home.

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“I booked my flights last night. I was in a hot spot when they declared it a hot spot, and then I left it and planned to stay (outside the hot spot) for 14 days … then fly home to avoid $2500,” she said.

Visiting her partner in Brisbane, Ms Burke was only meant to be there for a few days before the hot-spot declaration grounded her and her plans.

“I was meant to be there for a weekend, but my stay was extended by a week,” she said. “I had to cancel flights last week. It was pretty expensive, I ended up losing almost $1000. It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is. It could be a lot worse.”

Meanwhile, Adam Marjoram has relocated to the NT from rural NSW — but had to travel through Sydney Airport.

Aaron Marjoram won't have to quarantine as QF842 from Brisbane arrives. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

“I’ve been checking with the COVID-19 app. I came out the international gate because I’ve been through Sydney Airport but I wasn’t nervous (if he had to go into quarantine),” he said.

“I’m really excited to be here. I’m starting a new job as development officer of Basketball NT.”

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Mr Marjoram said most passengers were used to flying with coronavirus restrictions, meaning there wasn’t too much angst on the flight.

“The flight was pretty casual. It’s not the first time round for us in the southern states, so we all know what we’re in for,” he said.

Australia has 7942 active coronavirus cases, three of which are in the Territory.

Virus-riddled Victoria recorded 466 new cases and 12 deaths over Friday night — one of the deaths was a man in his 30s. There have so far been 266 deaths from the disease in Australia.