Northern Territory says it will BAN visitors from coronavirus hotpots when it reopens borders in July
- The Northern Territory will introduce strict measures for certain visitors
- Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced new rules for the border reopening
- Visitors from coronavirus hotspots will not be permitted free access to the NT
- They must isolate for 14 days and are subject to harsher penalties and fines
- The Northern Territory is set to lift coronavirus border restrictions on July 17
The Northern Territory has announced travellers from coronavirus hotspots will not be permitted free access when its borders reopen.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he would introduce any necessary measures to keep the territory safe after the planned border reopening on July 17.
'If your suburb or local government area has been declared a hotspot by your state or territory government or by the Australian Health Protection Principle Committee, then you will not be permitted free access to the Northern Territory,' he said.
Visitors from coronavirus hotspots will not be permitted free access to the Northern Territory (pictured) when its borders reopen on July 17 and must instead isolate for 14 days
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said any visitors from a coronavirus hotspot (Melbourne pictured) who flouted the rules would be subject to harsher penalties
Mr Gunner said that rule would apply to anyone who had travelled through a coronavirus hotspot in the last 10 days, NT News reported.
'You will be required self contained for 14 days in a regional centre and at your own cost before you can apply. ... This direction will apply on the day of your arrival in the Territory,' he explained.
The Chief Minister said visitors from hotspots would be subject to harsher penalties including larger fines or a prison sentence of up to three years.
Mr Gunner said he understood Territorians were concerned about a second wave of coronavirus and that he was prepared to defeat it.
'If or when corona comes back to the Territory, we will jump on it and we will smash it, we will track it down and if we need to we will lock down the area where we find it until it is gone,' he said.
The Chief Minister said the COVID-19 spike in Victoria was worrying but the territory could not stay closed any longer.
'I know a lot of concern comes from what's happening in Victoria right now. I want to remind Territorians, this is why we waited,' he said.
Victoria has recorded 33 new coronavirus cases overnight and six local government areas have been identified as hotspots.
More to come
