The Chief Health Officer has declared the City of Greater Geelong, Rural City of Wangaratta, Shire of Murrindindi and Mitchell Shire Local Government Area (LGA) hotspots for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory, effective from 5.00pm today, 17 September 2021.
Hotspots are already in place in Victoria for Metropolitan Melbourne, the City of Greater Shepparton, the City of Ballarat and the Surf Coast Shire LGA. Airports in Victoria are not considered to be hotspots and are able to be transited through.
Strict border controls are in place for all people travelling to the NT from a declared hotspot or public exposure site. The border controls prohibit entry into the NT except for returning residents, or those who have obtained prior approval to enter.
People from the City of Greater Geelong, Rural City of Wangaratta, Shire of Murrindindi and Mitchell Shire LGA with an approved exemption to travel to the NT and who arrive after 05.00pm today, will be required to undertake 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine at the Alice Springs or Howard Springs quarantine facilities.
A testing direction remains in place for anyone who arrives in the NT from other areas of Regional Victoria. People arriving from these areas are required to travel directly to a suitable place, self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19. They must remain in isolation until a negative test is returned and continue to monitor for symptoms.
It is very important that if you have symptoms, you get tested for COVID-19.
Book your COVID-19 test online at https://coronavirus.nt.gov.au/ or contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 484.
Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie
"Territorians are reminded that interstate travel at this time remains a risk given the spread of COVID-19 continues to occur in Australia, particularly in Victoria and NSW. With school holidays approaching, please remember to regularly check the NT COVID-19 website for hotspot and border entry information.
"The spread of the highly infectious Delta strain of COVID-19 also reminds us it is critical to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting the vaccine will reduce your risk of severe illness if you contract COVID-19, so please don't delay and book your appointment today."
