Sydneysiders set to be allowed to travel freely into the NT within weeks if COVID-19 cases continue to decrease
SYDNEY residents will soon be allowed to travel freely into the Territory, with the NT likely to remove its COVID-19 hotspot declaration for the area on October 9
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NEARLY 5 million Sydneysiders are on track to be allowed to travel into the NT within weeks, as Chief Minister Michael Gunner revealed hotspot declarations for the area could be lifted as early as October 9.
As NSW’s COVID-19 caseload continues to trend downward, Mr Gunner, through advice from Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie, said the state’s “superb” contact tracing regime meant there was a “high degree of confidence” restrictions could be lifted in 28 days.
Regional and rural Victoria, where the number of coronavirus cases is lower than that of greater Melbourne, could also be let back in to the NT in October Dr Heggie said, though no decision has been made.
The decision to remove restrictions on NSW came as the state confirmed it had recorded 10 new cases on Friday, with health authorities saying COVID “continues to circulate in the community”.
Accepting the decision would have its detractors, Mr Gunner said the NT’s hot spot policy was “nation leading” and so far there had been no “disaster”.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who is in an ongoing public stoush with her Queensland counterpart over border restrictions, welcomed NT’s announcement and said she wanted to “especially thank” Mr Gunner.
Amid revelations the NT could be losing millions from people using the Howard Springs quarantine facility as a back door to Queensland, Mr Gunner also implored travellers to spend a few days in the Territory before they “bugger off” because while they were welcome, Territorians shouldn’t be subsidising someone’s “trip to Brisbane to watch the AFL grand final” or “holidays to the Gold Coast”.
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The actual cost of quarantine is “a lot more” than the $2500 per person or up to $5000 for a family that people are currently being charged for a 2 week stint at the disused miners village.
Mr Gunner said he was “confident” the NT can come to an agreement with the Commonwealth to recognise the “national role” the Territory is playing to quarantine people.
“The territory is carrying a heavy load of quarantine while others get the benefits,” he said. “It’s not the biggest issue, but it is an issue. It is getting a bit annoying, and it is costing us money.”
Dr Heggie warned the risk of catching COVID-19 in the NT, which has had no community transmission throughout the pandemic, was “not completely gone”, imploring travellers from places that may have a small number of cases to not hug or kiss people when they are up here and stay away from vulnerable people like the aged.
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There have been almost 67,000 arrivals in the NT since borders opened on July 17.
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