NT Government minister laments lack of ‘iron clad’ coronavirus quarantine overflow plan

A Northern Territory minister has conceded the Government should have been better prepared to deal with an influx of South Australian arrivals to Alice Springs this week following the state’s declaration as a coronavirus hotspot.

The influx of arrivals stretched the town’s official quarantine facility to capacity on Tuesday afternoon and forced the Government to allow 130 people to self-isolate at residential addresses.

The Government also eventually flew 70 people from Alice Springs to the Howard Springs quarantine facility in Darwin as it scrambled to accommodate those crossing the South Australian border after an earlier flight was delayed due to a bird strike.

Health Minister Natasha Fyles has held her position that local…