Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet
The Chief Health Officer has declared additional COVID-19 testing requirements for those people who have arrived in the NT from Brisbane.
This follows on from a 26 year old male testing positive to COVID-19 on Thursday, and a close contact subsequently testing positive today.
The 26 year old who spent a week in the community, visiting various locations across the city while infectious, has now been shown to have the same strain as the healthcare worker who tested positive in Brisbane on 11 March 2021. Queensland authorities are continuing to investigate links between the cases.
The Chief Health Officer has directed that all people who arrived in the Northern Territory since 20 March 2021 from the City of Brisbane and Moreton Bay Region Local Government Areas must self-quarantine and get a COVID-19 test in the next 72 hours and must remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is returned. This does not include those who have just transited through Brisbane Airport.
In addition, anyone who has arrived in the Northern Territory from the City of Brisbane and Moreton Bay Region Local Government Areas between 12 March and 11.59pm on 19 March who is showing any symptoms of COVID-19 must self-quarantine, get a COVID-19 test in the next 72 hours and must remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is returned.
Please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 008 002 to book a test. For all other enquiries phone 1800 490 484.
If you are a Territorian intending to travel to Brisbane you are advised to rethink your plans. If you are from Brisbane and are an intending to travel to the Northern Territory you are advised to rethink your plans.
The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation in Brisbane and will take into account COVID-19 monitoring and data collection, the extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.
The risk of COVID-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone to follow all health directions.
- If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not travel. Make sure you get tested and stay at home.
- Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres at all times.
- Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.
- Do not go to work if you feel sick.
- If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19.
Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer, Dr Hugh Heggie:
"While the situation in Brisbane continues to unfold as further contact tracing is undertaken, I have expanded the testing requirements for those who have arrived in the NT from Brisbane
"Yesterday the focus was on specific exposure sites, but today this has been expanded to capture broader geographical areas of risk in response to the additional positive case and while the investigation continues.
"Testing is critical for the early detection of COVID-19 and I have made this Direction to protect the health and safety of Territorians.
I will continue to closely monitor and assess what is happening in Brisbane as the situation evolves and Information continues to emerge and will keep the community updated on further developments.
"I will not hesitate to declare a hotspot if required. I encourage anyone who is currently in, or intending to travel to Brisbane, to monitor the situation and assess the risk before travelling.
