Northern Territory to ease coronavirus border restrictions from June 15

The Northern Territory will begin easing its border restrictions from June 15, with NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner scrapping mandatory quarantine for interstate arrivals.

Since the beginning of April, all arrivals to the Northern Territory have had to go into mandatory quarantine in hotels selected by NT authorities and slugged with a $2,500 bill.

But the restriction will be lifted from Monday 15 June, although all arrivals will still need to self-quarantine but at a location of their choosing.

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NT Authorities will conduct spot checks and undertake mandatory testing of people quarantining within the first 72 hours and the last 72 hours of the two weeks.

After June 15, the border closures will be reviewed weekly.

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the decision today amid increasing pressure to set a firm date for when border restrictions will be lifted.

"This is one of the last boxes we need to tick, as well as evidence of the declining community transmission down south, our success of self-quarantine will help us make the final decision when and how to ease our border restrictions."

There's been a growing call among the private sector for the Government to lift restrictions since all patients recovered from COVID-19.

The Northern Territory is currently in its traditional peak tourism period, but Chamber of Commerce CEO Greg Ireland fears many businesses will suffer or be forced to close if no interstate visitors travel north.

"Businesses are really struggling, the people I'm talking to out there are operating but not operating anywhere near the capacity they need to survive."

But Mr Gunner continues to refuse to set a firm date, insisting he will when he believes it is safe and won't risk community spread into the NT.

"We've done a lot of preparation work but it's still an absolute fear of mine, the ICU bed we fill, the people that might die, if we stuff this up."

"(The border restrictions) not only have saved lives it has saved jobs."

The Chamber of Commerce has welcomed today's announcement as a small step forward, but says it doesn't go nearly far enough and still wants to see borders open from July 1.

"It's going to have a toll and it's very difficult to predict what that is going to be but I think there'll be more closures."

The Chief Minister says he will provide a month's notice before lifting restrictions.

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