Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet
The Chief Health Officer has declared three suburbs across Metropolitan Melbourne as COVID-19 Hotspots for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory from 3.30pm today on 8 February 2021 and revoked the 10 suburbs declared hotspots on 4 February 2021.
The three suburbs declared as hotspots today, 8 February are:
· Maidstone
· Sunshine
· Taylors Lakes
The 10 suburbs revoked as hotspots are:
· Brighton
· Clayton South
· Heatherton
· Keysborough
· Melbourne
· Moorabbin Airport
· Noble Park
· Springvale
· West Melbourne
· Wheelers Hill
This follows on from an Authorised Officer at a hotel quarantine facility in Melbourne returning a positive COVID-19 test. The worker visited a number of locations across the three declared Melbourne hotspots while on two days off. The worker developed COVID-19 symptoms upon finishing work on Sunday 7 February. Victoria Health Authorities have implemented a number of public health controls to prevent any spread of COVID-19.
Anyone travelling to the Northern Territory from a COVID-19 Hotspot must undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine at the Alice Springs or Howard Springs quarantine facilities at a cost of $2,500 per person. Quarantine will be undertaken at the first urban centre you arrive at, including for transit. Those people in the air at the time the hotspot was declared will have the option to return home or enter mandatory supervised quarantine at no cost.
Those people who have arrived in the Northern Territory between 5 February 2021 and 3.29pm today from the declared hotspots Maidstone, Sunshine or Taylors Lakes are strongly recommended to have a COVID-19 test and undertake self-quarantine until a negative test is returned.
Please contact the COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 008 002 to book a test. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test if you only transited to the airport. For all other enquiries phone 1800 490 484.
If you are intending to travel to the Northern Territory from a COVID-19 Hotspot you are advised to rethink your plans. If you are a Territorian intending to travel to a hotspot you are advised to rethink your plans.
The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation in Victoria 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.
To stay up to date with the latest information visit www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie
"I have made the decision to declare these further three Melbourne suburbs as COVID-19 hotspots following another community case linked to hotel quarantine.
"Similarly to last week, Victorian authorities have acted quickly and have maintained their public health controls to limit the spread of COVID-19. These measures include significant contact tracing, increased testing, mandatory mask wearing inside and outside, limiting numbers at gatherings and delaying return to work measures.
"Today I was also able to revoke the 10 suburbs declared as hotspots on 4 February 2021. Victoria has undertaken extensive community testing as well as testing the close contacts and casual contacts of the gentleman who tested positive with no further cases identified.
"I don't hesitate to declare a hotspot when necessary to protect the health and safety of Territorians so I urge the community to stay informed of the COVID-19 situation, we know it can change at any time."
