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Pack your bags! Victorians will soon be able to holiday in the Northern Territory as Chief Minister reveals date that border restrictions could be lifted

Regional Victorians could be allowed to go on holiday in the Northern Territory from as early as the beginning of November. 

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Monday flagged November 2 as the date he could open the territory's borders to travellers from regional parts of Victoria - as long as the rate of COVID-19 transmission remains low.

He said aside from metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong, Mitchell Shire, Macedon Ranges and East Gippsland, everywhere else in Victoria would have its hotspot rating dropped in four weeks by the NT government.

Regional Victorians could be allowed to go on holiday in the Northern Territory from the beginning of November . Pictured a tourist at Uluru in the territory's south

Regional Victorians could be allowed to go on holiday in the Northern Territory from the beginning of November . Pictured a tourist at Uluru in the territory's south

He added he could then be willing to extend the invitation to those from Melbourne where he said authorities were 'on the cusp' of crushing its second wave of cases. 

New Zealanders will also be welcome in the NT under the Trans-Tasman bubble set to begin on October 16.

'The Northern Territory has been at the front of the pack thanks to our hotspot policy,' Mr Gunner said.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner pictured at a Darwin pub on May 15. He flagged November 2 as the date he could open the state up to travellers from parts of Victoria aside from metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong, Mitchell Shire, Macedon Ranges and East Gippsland

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner pictured at a Darwin pub on May 15. He flagged November 2 as the date he could open the state up to travellers from parts of Victoria aside from metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong, Mitchell Shire, Macedon Ranges and East Gippsland

The plan marks a stark change from Mr Gunner's rhetoric before the NT's general election in August - when he said he could close the borders until 2022.

He had said in the lead up to the election 18 months was a 'conservative' estimate for re-opening the state border. 

Victoria recorded nine new coronavirus infections and no deaths overnight on Monday as Premier Daniel Andrews pleaded for residents to 'stay the course'.

Pictured: The border between the Northern Territory and South Australia on Stuart Highway. Mr Gunner said the territory's hotpot policy was 'at the front of the pack'

Pictured: The border between the Northern Territory and South Australia on Stuart Highway. Mr Gunner said the territory's hotpot policy was 'at the front of the pack'

The 14-day rolling average of COVID-19 infections dropped to 11.6 for metropolitan Melbourne on Monday, while regional Victoria rose from 0.2 to 0.3.

Mr Andrews implored residents to continue following the rules after large groups at beaches and parks flouted coronavirus restrictions in recent days. 

'We are so, so close. Let's not any of us do anything that might undermine the very positive numbers,' he told reporters on Sunday.  

Sun-bakers are seen in their COVID-Safe circles at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Saturday.  NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the virus-hit city was 'on the cusp' of stopping the virus' spread

Sun-bakers are seen in their COVID-Safe circles at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Saturday.  NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the virus-hit city was 'on the cusp' of stopping the virus' spread

'Once we get them low, we can keep them low and we can open up again.

'If we don't do anything silly or anything selfish right now.'

Police patrolled St Kilda Beach after large groups gathered on Friday, raising concerns that such behaviour could trigger another outbreak. 

Mr Andrews warned he could be forced to extend the 5km travel bubble for metropolitan Melbourne if residents continue to hit the beach. 

'I can't put a timeline on it but those rules serve a really important purpose and they'll be in place for as long as that purpose is relevant and proportionate — the benefit is relevant and proportionate — to the challenge we face,' he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews pleaded for residents to 'stay the course'. Pictured: Police speak to residents in Melbourne on Saturday

Premier Daniel Andrews pleaded for residents to 'stay the course'. Pictured: Police speak to residents in Melbourne on Saturday

'There will be a time when that (5km rule) can come off, but exactly when that is — or it might be extended — when that is we can't be certain now.'

There have been 13 mystery cases in Melbourne between September 19 and October 2.

Melbourne needs a 14-day average of fewer than five cases as well as less than five mystery cases for restrictions to further ease on October 19.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Sunday said there were three new mystery cases in postcodes 3145, 3023 and 3019 and urged anyone in the areas with symptoms to get tested.

'We are so, so close. Let's not any of us do anything that might undermine the very positive numbers,' Mr Andrews told reporters on Sunday

'We are so, so close. Let's not any of us do anything that might undermine the very positive numbers,' Mr Andrews told reporters on Sunday

He said a single case of unknown origin might represent 10 or 15 true cases in the community.

'It's really a call to arms ... anyone in those postcodes should be aware that there's transmission in those postcodes,' he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews said he was 'as confident as you can be' that the state's 14-day average would drop to fewer than five daily cases in a fortnight.

'Regional Victoria is in a different place today than they were three or four weeks ago. And hopefully on 18 or 19 October, so just in a couple of weeks' time, metro Melbourne will be in a different place than they are right now,' he said.

The state's death toll sits at 806.  
 


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