Statement – Declared Hotspot

Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet

The Chief Health Officer has declared Northern Beaches Council LGA in NSW as a hotspot for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory, effective at 12.01am, 18 of December 2020.

This follows on from an outbreak that has occurred in the Northern Beaches of Sydney and has grown to include 17 positive COVID-19 cases.

Anyone travelling to the Northern Territory from Northern Beaches Council LGA will need to undertake 14 days of mandatory, supervised quarantine in either Alice Springs or Darwin.

If you are intending to travel to the Northern Territory from an identified 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.

If you travel to Northern Beaches Council LGA while it is a declared hotspot, you will be required to undertake 14 days mandatory, supervised quarantine on your return at a cost of $2,500 per person.

Anyone who has already arrived in the Northern Territory from Northern Beaches Council LGA on or after the 11 December 2020 needs to arrange for a COVID-19 test and self-quarantine whilst awaiting the test results.

Please contact the COVID-19 hotline 1800 008 002 and identify yourself as a person who has been in an area that has been declared a hotspot since you arrived in the NT.

Ensure you practice high levels of personal hygiene and physical distancing.

The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation in NSW and 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.

· Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Put your tissue in the bin straight away.

· Do not go to work if you feel sick.

· If you have symptoms, stay away from others and call a doctor or the NT COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 008 002.

To stay up to date with the latest information visit www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au

As noted by Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie

“I have declared Northern Beaches Council LGA, in NSW a hotspot. This declaration has been made rapidly to protect the health of all Territorians.”

“The outbreak in Northern Beaches Council LGA has grown quickly and the decisions made in the coming days to contain it will be critical. I will continue to review and assess the situation and respond accordingly.

“This cluster of cases in NSW is a reminder to us all not to become complacent about this virus. We all know what to do. Please continue to follow my advice on how to protect yourselves and others, and please get tested if you have any symptoms.”

/Public Release. View in full here.