Smokers’ requests to leave COVID-19 quarintine rooms for a dart denied by authorities

SMOKERS in coronavirus hotel quarantine desperate to light up a smoke have had requests to leave their room for a dart knocked back by authorities

Smokers in quarintine have had their requests to leave their room for a durry denied

SMOKERS in quarantine desperate to light up a smoke have had requests to leave their room for a dart knocked back by authorities – and Chief Minister Michael Gunner is not apologising for it.

Smokers in quarantine have been encouraged to use nicotine patches and gum for their fortnight in isolation.

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Officials have had some of the newly arrived travellers forced into quarantine at hotels in Darwin ask for a slight adjustment to the rules to allow them to get a nicotine fix.

Those with access to a balcony from their room can smoke freely, however those with out have been forced to temporarily put the habit on hold.

The NT News understands the there has been a directive from Mr Gunner and the Chief Health Officer to occupants that: “Smokers are not allowed to leave their room to go outside for a cigarette.”

Mr Gunner said he has been firm on the matter.

“Sorry, but you’re not smoking,” he said.

“You are not allowed to leave your room, and that includes for a smoke break.

“We had 99 per cent compliance for self-quarantine, that’s great but not good enough. I want 100 per cent. That’s why we went to forced quarantine and allowing people out for a smoke break is not 100 per cent.

“Put on a patch or chew some gum. Tough it out for a fortnight because there’s no way you’re going outside.”

Since the tough new quarantine measures designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 were introduced by Mr Gunner there has been a significant drop in arrivals to the NT.

Figures collated by the government show there has been a 94 per cent drop since Sunday, March 29 of people arriving at the Territory’s borders.

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On that day there were 288 arrivals in the NT, compared to just 18 on April 5.

Four people arrived at Darwin Airport on Sunday and two people arrived in the NT via the Stuart Hwy.

The decline comes as the AFP answered the all of Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker for reinforcement to help police the NT’s border entry points.

NT Police and the Defence Force began manning the border entries last month.