Northern Territory’s Snap Lockout

Today, the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, announced that as of 1 pm 6 January 2022, a territory-wide lockout has come into effect. The lockout was announced after the Northern Territory recorded 256 new cases, the highest daily recorded in the territory to date. 

The lockout will remain in place until midday Monday 10 January 2022.

Anyone caught breaching the rules will face a $5,000 fine. 

Restrictions for Vaccinated People 

Mandatory mask use remains in place. Anyone over the age of 12 must wear a mask while inside any premises, vehicle or vessel where they cannot maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from other people. 

This includes hospitality venues, workplaces and airports however, excludes private residences and anyone undertaking strenuous exercise. 

It is recommended everyone wears a mask outdoors, especially in areas where social distancing is not possible.

Vaccinated people are not allowed to travel to exclusion zones unless they are an essential worker, family member of an essential worker or a resident. Exclusion zones are communities that have a full vaccination rate of less than 80 per cent for residents aged 5 years and over. Any resident or essential worker entering an exclusion zone will need to return a negative Rapid Antigen Test on the day of entry. 

 A list of exclusion zones is available here

Territorians have until Monday to link their vaccination status to the Territory Check-in app when a vaccine pass system is introduced. 

A vaccine pass will be necessary for entering hospitality venues, cinemas and ticketed events for more than 500 people in urban centres and more than 100 in non-urban centres.

Restrictions for Unvaccinated People 

Anyone above the age of 16, who is not fully vaccinated (i.e. two or more doses of a Covid-19 vaccine) must stay at home during the lockout period. They are only permitted to leave for the following three reasons:

  1. medical treatment, including COVID testing or vaccination
  2. for essential goods and services, like groceries, power tokens and medications
  3. to provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.

They must stay within 30km of their home unless they have to go to the hospital. 

It is the responsibility of businesses and organisations to ensure their staff and customers are fully vaccinated. 

Interstate Travellers 

Unvaccinated travellers are not permitted to enter the Northern Territory. Unvaccinated Territorians returning home must undertake 14 days of supervised quarantine, at their own cost. Children aged 15 years and under are considered to be vaccinated for the purposes of entry. 

Vaccinated Travellers can enter the Territory without quarantining provided they:

  • Acquire a border pass
  • Have a Rapid Antigen Test within two hours after arriving in the NT.
  • Have a Rapid Antigen Test on Day 3 after arriving in the NT.
  • Have a Rapid Antigen Test on Day 6 after arriving in the NT.

Essential Workers entering an exclusion zone must have a Rapid Antigen Test every day while in an exclusion zone, up until the seventh day after their arrival in the NT.

The RAT kits will be provided to travellers, for free, at the airport or at a collection point by road.

After the lockout period, interstate travellers will not be able to travel to an exclusion zone for 14 days after their arrival in the NT. 

For more information, please contact Hawker Britton’s Northern Territory Director Elliot Stein +61 431 744 115

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