The Northern Territory Government has announced mandatory COVID-19 quarantine for South Australians coming to the NT, while restrictions for Melbournians will end this month.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner told a Monday morning press conference that from Monday, November 30, Melbourne residents would no longer need to quarantine when coming to the Territory.

“So we can get on the beers again with our Melbourne mates,” he said.

Mr Gunner said the Security and Emergency Management Committee met on Monday morning over what he said was the “alarming developments” in South Australia overnight. The ABC reported Tasmania and Western Australia were also imposing restrictions on the state, which now has 17 coronavirus cases linked to a cluster in Adelaide.

“It is what we don’t know that worries us the most,” he said. “Because of what we don’t know, we are being deliberately cautious right now.”

Mr Gunner said he hoped when chief health officer Dr Hugh Heggie knew more about the South Australian COVID-19 situation they could narrow the hotspot area.

The hotspot and mandatory quarantine will begin this morning, and Mr Gunner said people who arrive in the Territory by plane this morning will be given the option to fly back.

Mr Gunner said, because of the late notice, people who arrive today or tomorrow will not have to pay the $2,500.

Dr Heggie said the biggest COVID-19 risk in Australia was people coming from overseas.

“And it would seem in this instance someone who has worked in one of those facilities in Adelaide has got symptoms and has been tested positive. Very quickly from late yesterday afternoon, and communicating with my colleagues today, that has grown from a couple of cases, three to four, to 17 today.

“Now they’re all connected…they have gone and worked in a variety of places, including prisons and we do have repatriating prisoners from Adelaide. One was in hospital, that poses a risk for the health practioners, many come from South Australia and Adelaide.

“It is the next critical period of time, to be blunt, to assess the increasing numbers of positive cases and where they are.”

The Chief Minister said several times he did not believe the Territory’s freedom from community transmission was solely down to luck.

“But I think we can all agree our success has caused some compliancy here. We don’t want our sacrifice and success to be wasted because we slacked off a bit,” He said.

“The new COVID safe check in system will help address that, so will the COVID safety plan reviews the venues will need to undertake.

“But it’s not just up to venues get to get it right. We all need to get it right.

“It’s what Dr Heggie has been saying for months. Human behaviour is the biggest risk and the best defence. I think Dr Heggie and our world class clinical team have made us all proud to be Territorian this year.

“So let’s give Dr Heggie and his team an early Christmas present this year, and make sure they can be as proud of us as we are of them. Make Dr Heggie proud. Be the best Territorian you can be and stay safe.