The Chief Health Officer has declared the City of Ballarat and the Surf Coast Shire Local Government Area (LGA) in Victoria hotspots for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory, effective from 5.00pm today, 15 September 2021. This follows the seven day lockdown for the City of Ballarat announced by Victorian health authorities and positive wastewater results in the Surf Coast Shire LGA.
Hotspots are already in place for Metropolitan Melbourne and the City of Greater Shepparton LGA. Airports in Victoria are not considered to be hotspots for the purposes of transit.
The Chief Health Officer requires anyone arriving in the NT from Regional Victoria, excluding the City of Greater Shepparton, City of Ballarat and the Surf Coast Shire Local Government area, to travel directly to a suitable place, self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19. The person must remain in isolation until a negative test is returned. The COVID-19 situation is constantly changing and Territorians are strongly urged to reconsider any proposed travel to Regional Victoria at this time. 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 Ballarat and the Surf Coast Shire LGA with an approved exemption to travel to the NT who arrive after 05.00pm today, will be required to undertake 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine at the Howard Springs of Alice Springs quarantine facilities. 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
“Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria in recent days have included essential workers who have travelled in and out of Melbourne to these regional areas of concern. We are also seeing positive wastewater results and an increase in exposure sites.
“This hotspot declaration is about managing an emerging risk to Territorians.
We are dealing with the Delta strain of COVID-19, which is highly infectious. We need to act quickly in our decision making to protect Territorians.”
