Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest Northern Territory specific updates
Public Health Emergency declared
The Minister for Health has declared a public health emergency for the whole of the Territory under the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 in response to Novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This will be in force until further notice.
This means:
- Non-essential large gatherings are prohibited (500 people outdoors and more than 100 people indoors)
- People are legally directed to self-quarantine upon returning from overseas travel
There are penalties of up to $62,800 for failure to comply with the new COVID-19 directions.
Gathering in groups
Organised, non-essential gatherings of more than 500+ people outdoors and 100+ people indoors are not allowed.
Tiwi Islands
The Tiwi Land Council has directed any person who is NOT a resident of the Tiwi Islands is not permitted to enter the Tiwi Islands, and subsequently evoked all non-essential permits. No new non-essential permits will be granted.
COVID-19 press conference 18 March 2020
Contact and hotline numbers
Advice
There is a dedicated COVID-19 national hotline number - 1800 020 080.
Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19). The national hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Testing
There is a dedicated COVID-19 hotline number for the NT for people who need to arrange testing only - 1800 008 002.
If you live in Darwin and need to arrange testing, please call the Public Health Unit on 8922 8044.
Mass gatherings
There is a dedicated COVID-19 mass gatherings hotline for the NT - 1800 518 055.
Call this line if you are seeking information regarding an upcoming mass gathering in the Northern Territory. All gatherings of more than 500 people are prevented and will need to be cancelled, postponed or modified to meet requirements. The NT Health COVID-19 Risk Assessment tool DOCX (66.0 KB) has been developed to assist event organisers to determine the level of clinical risk around proposed events.
Remote communities
There is a dedicated COVID-19 remote community travel hotline for the NT – 1800 518 189.
Call this line if you are seeking information regarding traveling to a remote community in the Northern Territory. NT remote communities have been closed to all non-essential travel in response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
Last updated: 10 March 2020