Rural doctors group airs concerns about move to allow some NT hot spot arrivals to spend less than 14 days in quarantine

THE Rural Doctors Association of Australia has hit out at a change to quarantine requirements for hot spot arrivals into the NT

• Changes announced for NT COVID-19 quarantine

THE Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) has hit out at a change to quarantine requirements for hot spot arrivals into the NT, saying it could leave residents more exposed to the spread of coronavirus.

An alteration to the Chief Health Officer’s directions, which was announced and implemented on Monday, means the amount of time a hot spot arrival spends outside a COVID-19 hot spot area immediately before entering the NT can now be deducted from the standard 14-day mandatory quarantine period.

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RDAA chief executive Peta Rutherford said the change could prompt more visitors to bend the rules and the general public to become complacent.

“Our concern would be... if people have been to a (non-hotspot) location, how are they providing evidence and demonstrating that, and how are authorities monitoring and controlling it,” she said.

“We’ve got community transmission in parts of Australia, and we’ve already seen there are people who are trying to find loopholes in the system.

“We’re just a little bit wary of any reduction in restrictions that increases movement for the general community.”

However, NT Health has confirmed arrivals subject to the new quarantine policy will still have to sign a statutory declaration and be tested for coronavirus.

“A person does not need to prove they were from a hot spot before they arrive, however they do need to complete a border entry form and sign a declaration to state where they have been prior to entry,” a spokeswoman said.

“If a person goes into quarantine and is eligible to leave early then they may need to provide evidence to support their travel movement dates.

“People are tested prior to leaving quarantine. If a person displays symptoms they will also be tested.”

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Yesterday it was also revealed the SA Government is expected to ease the state’s border restrictions with NSW and the ACT within weeks.

But a NT government spokesman said the Territory would not necessarily follow suit.

“We look closely at the situation every day and listen to the advice of the Chief Health Officer,” he said.

“We will do what’s right for the Territory, when it’s right for the Territory.”