Thousands quarantined at Howard Springs since July 17

AS the NT becomes the hub for international charter flights for repatriated Australians, the NT News can reveal how many people have quarantined at Howard Springs since July 17

THE number of people who’ve quarantined at Howard Springs since interstate borders reopened is approaching 5,000, as the facility prepares to take in even more repatriated Australians in coming months.

The COVID-19 Operations Centre has revealed that 4,930 people have quarantined for two weeks in the facility since July 17.

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Overall, 136,480 people have travelled into the NT since mid-July by either plane, boat, train or car.

The Northern Territory will over coming months receive thousands more repatriated Australians from international flights chartered by the Australian government, the first of which touched down on Friday.

Returning Australians aboard QF110 arriving by bus at Howard Springs on Friday. Picture: Che Chorley

Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week said there were over 20,000 Australians still overseas.

“We continue to make good progress towards returning Australians home,” Mr Morrison said.

Tourism and hospitality operators in the Territory have been seeing benefits from interstate travel, with Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Saturday saying the NT was the “safest place in Australia.”

Howard Springs is currently housing quarantined travellers from interstate and overseas. Picture: Che Chorley

“It’s been a hard slog for our tourism and hospitality operators but they’ve done an incredible job surviving and adapting,” Mr Gunner said.

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Regional Victorians will be allowed into the Territory from next Monday.