NT News Editorial: Pat on the back for all Territorians during COVID-19

EVERY Territorian deserves a huge pat on the back for their efforts in 2020. Coronavirus has sent the world into a spin this year and while many of us have been looking forward to 2021, the reality is the virus isn’t going anywhere.

Sydney passengers arrive at Darwin airport on Sunday

EVERY Territorian deserves a huge pat on the back for their efforts in 2020.

Coronavirus has sent the world into a spin this year and while many of us have been looking forward to 2021, the reality is the virus isn’t going anywhere.

What’s happened in recent days in Sydney shows that no matter how much governments try and suppress the virus, you only need one lapse and a cluster can emerge very quickly.

While it largely turned out to be nothing, the situation in Adelaide a few weeks ago was another huge scare for our nation.

Thankfully, the number of cases in New South Wales yesterday dropped from the day prior which was some positive news.

What we need to see is a further drop in cases as the new year approaches.

Authorities in the Territory have not always made the popular decisions and we have criticised them when we feel they have made the wrong and unjust call, such as Sydney passengers being ambushed at Darwin airport on Sunday and shoved into mandatory quarantine.

Nonetheless, we respect they all have a job to do and, in sporting terms, they are playing in a game, and on an oval, they never have before.

But the real heroes of the coronavirus crisis are Territorians who have largely followed orders to the letter and kept us the safest place in Australia.

Kudos to all of you!