NT chief health officer declares Shepparton a hotspot after 12 cases

A regional Victorian town at the centre of a new Covid-19 cluster is now a hotspot for the NT, amid fears the southern state is on the verge of a third wave.

UPDATE: SHEPPARTON has been declared a Covid-19 hotspot by the Northern Territory chief health officer Dr Hugh Heggie.

The declaration means only NT residents in the Victorian town can return to the Territory, and they must spend two weeks in mandatory quarantine.

It comes amid concerns Victoria is on the brink of a third coronavirus wave, with authorities in Melbourne mulling tougher restrictions.

The NT News understands the declaration came into force from 5pm ACST.

Shepparton joins all of New South Wales, Greater Melbourne and the ACT as declared hotspots by Dr Heggie.

EARLIER: THE NT government has changed tack and will now declare Canberra and Sydney airports as hotspots.

It follows a case of Covid-19 travelling from Sydney, via Canberra, to Darwin before testing positive for the virus.

The 30-year-old man travelled directly from 14 days of hotel quarantine, but authorities are still trying to determine where he picked up the virus.

New Zealand was on Wednesday declared a hotspot by NT Health after an outbreak of the virus.

Prior to Thursday’s announcement by Chief Minister Michael Gunner, travellers from a non-hotspot were able to transit through Canberra and Sydney airports so long as they didn’t leave the airport.

Travellers will no longer be able to transit through Canberra Airport. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The airports and New Zealand join all of New South Wales and Melbourne as declared Covid-19 hotspots by the NT.

Only essential travellers are allowed to travel from those locations to the Territory, and they must complete 14 days of quarantine.

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