Northern Territory Police and Public Health officials are investigating up to 38 potential breaches of self-isolation directions since Friday’s declaration of the Greater Melbourne area as a hotspot. Officials have conducted 270 compliance checks since Friday with 38 additional cases requiring investigation.

A second person has been issued a $5056 fine. The 31-year-old male was found not to be in his nominated place of self-isolation yesterday. He had arrived in Darwin from Melbourne on 11 February and was subject to a direction to self-isolate and undergo a COVID-19 test.

Incident Controller Acting Commander Scott Pollock said, “Over the weekend we were unable to immediately contact 38 people who were supposed to be in self-isolation. These are currently under investigation and further infringements will now be issued.

“The Chief Health Officer Directions are not issued lightly. They are made with the safety of both Territorians and travellers in mind. If you are under a direction to self-isolate, compliance officers will come knocking at your door. You will be fined if you are found in breach of the direction.”

The infringement penalty for failing to abide by the Chief Health Officers Directions issued under section 56 of the Public and Environment Health Act 2011 is $5056 for an individual and $25,280 for a business.

For more information on COVID-19, visit www.coronavirus.nt.gov.au