New rules for arrivals into the Territory from South Australia

The Territory’s Health Minister has unveiled new rules for arrivals from South Australia as the NT transitions to a traffic light system for hotspots. READ HOW IT WORKS.

UPDATED: ARRIVALS from South Australia into the Territory will need to get a rapid antigen test upon arrival after the state threw open its borders to other jurisdictions.

Several cases of Covid-19 were detected in South Australia just days after the state opened its borders to Victoria and NSW.

Under new rules, arrivals from SA will need to get a PCR Covid-19 test 72 hours before arriving into the Territory.

They will then need to get a rapid antigen test in either Alice Springs or Darwin.

The new rules come into force from Monday.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the measures were put in place to ensure Covid wasn’t brought into the Territory from the south.

Officers will patrol the NT/SA border. Photo: EMMA MURRAY

“They’ve seen a couple of cases in South Australia and so we are putting in place a testing regime for people arriving in South Australia,” Ms Fyles said.

She said the new requirements were being announced ahead of Monday because many travellers from South Australia were already on the road.

“They might have booked their flights and not be in a position (to get a test).”

Under new Territory border requirements, arrivals from interstate must be vaccinated regardless of whether they are arriving from a hotspot or not.

New quarantine rules, which came into force from Monday, allow people to isolate in their own homes in highly-vaccinated areas for just seven days if they are fully vaccinated themselves.

Home quarantine will no longer be required in highly vaccinated areas from December 20.

Travellers from South Australia will need to get a traditional PCR test 72 hours before arriving in the Territory. Picture: Che Chorley

UPDATED: KATHERINE businesses have been thrown a lifeline of up to $4000 after enduring the longest lockdown in the Territory since the first wave.

In an overhaul to the Territory Business Lockdown Payment, any business impacted by lockdown for more than a week will receive increased weekly payments.

Businesses with turnover between $75,000 and $2m will receive $1000 a week, between $2m and $5m will get $2000 a week, and between $5m and $10m will receive $4000 a week.

They must have less than 20 full-time equivalent employees.

In a big win for operators across the Territory, businesses outside of a lockdown zone which are forced to close for more than two days because they are an exposure site will also be eligible for payments.

Small Business Minister Paul Kirby said the expanded lockdown payments would apply retrospectively and immediately to more than 130 businesses in the Katherine lockdown.

“Small businesses have seen record levels of support from this Government,” Mr Kirby said.

“This new measure will provide immediate support to businesses where it’s needed the most.

“Businesses right across the Territory can now be sure that if they find themselves impacted by a lockdown – this Government is here to support them.”

The changes will also be carried forward to any future lockdowns in the Territory which see businesses hit by revenue losses of 50 per cent.

EARLIER: SERVICES have been increased as one new community case of Covid-19 was recorded in Katherine.

An increase in emergency services numbers has been deployed to the region, with Australian Defence Force personnel being boosted by 85 increasing from 40 to 125 personnel overnight.

Defence manpower has been used across a series of police and health Covid initiatives.

Up to 40 defence personnel are supporting quarantine compliance monitoring at the Centre for National Resilience in Howard Springs and Bladin Village.

Transport and logistics officers are helping ferry people from remote or isolated communities to testing facilities in Katherine.

While the remaining 60 are split across food deliveries to community and assisting police at various twin check points across Katherine.

While defence personnel are waiting for police, a spokesperson said they do not have any enforcement powers under the current arrangements.

NT Police have sent an additional 35 officers to assist in the Katherine and surrounds cluster.

Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker has previously said officers were on the ground to monitor Covid compliance and education, to assist in food and care packages deliveries and to ensure homes had continued access to power and water.

Police and health have also increased their presence in the area following the announcement on Tuesday Katherine would remain locked down for another two weeks.