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Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the NT is the "safest place in the country right now", and COVID-19 figures from across Australia appear to back up his claim.
The Territory has Australia's lowest rate of coronavirus infections, with 11.4 cases per 100,000 residents to date — less than a third of NSW's 36.17 cases per 100,000 people.
It also has the lowest rate of COVID-19 tests returning a positive result, although NT Health's current rate of testing is slightly behind the national average.
In more good news for Territorians, Monday marks two weeks since the NT's last detected case of coronavirus, there has been no community transmission and the NT is the only jurisdiction in Australia without a COVID-19 death.
So, what has the NT done to be in this position and how is it trying to keep it this way?
How many cases has the NT had?
In the Northern Territory, 28 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 11 of whom have since recovered.
All 28 cases are connected to international or interstate travel and while the NT has no cases of community transmission, two patients acquired the virus locally from a member of their family who recently returned from holiday.
No-one in the NT is currently in an intensive care unit, although at least one patient previously needed treatment there.
How has the NT avoided community spread?
Like other Australian jurisdictions, the NT has strict social distancing measures in place banning non-essential gatherings and allowing restaurants to serve takeaway meals only.
But it's also introduced extra restrictions including border controls, forcing anyone entering the NT from overseas or interstate to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days upon their arrival — and travellers need to pay the $2,500 bill themselves.
To protect vulnerable Territorians who live in remote Indigenous communities, the Government banned non-essential travel to the Northern Territory's 76 remote communities and introduced a 14-day isolation period for community residents wanting to return home from regional centres.
This effectively locked down remote NT communities, where chronic disease rates are higher.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
A spokeswoman for the NT Government COVID-19 team, which sits within the Chief Minister's Department, said early decisions taken and implemented in the Territory helped slow the spread of coronavirus.
"Territorians have overwhelmingly responded to these measures in a positive manner that has helped slow the spread of COVID-19," she said.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said by listening to health advice, Territorians had given health experts "time to plan" for the pandemic, which had put it in a unique position.
"The Northern Territory acted early and those tough measures were about saving lives," she said.
Australian Medical Association NT president Rob Parker said the NT avoiding a COVID-19 death was about 90 per cent good planning by the NT Government and 10 per cent luck.
"It's just good planning and just a little bit of luck," he said.
"The government acted very quickly — closing borders, listening to health advice."
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Dr Parker said the fact the NT was so vast, with such a small population, helped to limit the spread of the potentially deadly disease.
He said the NT also wasn't an international hub for travellers to transfer through, which helped it avoid the high rates of travel-related COVID-19 cases seen in other states.
Can an NT death be avoided?
The Territory's COVID-19 team is urging people in the NT not to be complacent, warning "it is likely" more cases of COVID-19 will be diagnosed in future.
"While there are currently no cases of community transmission of COVID-19 in the Northern Territory, it is still possible there may be COVID-19-related deaths in the future," the spokeswoman said.
Mr Gunner says the NT is in a good position because it ha made tough decisions and Territorians are listening to health advice.
While NT students head back to the classroom on Monday, other restrictions will remain in place.
Speaking after Thursday's National Cabinet meeting, Mr Gunner said he could not give a firm timeline on when social and business restrictions could be eased and said he would not make promises that could not be kept.
He said his hope was the government could begin planning "the pathway back to normal" if the NT had no new cases and recoveries in all current cases at the end of the month.
The Chief Minister said the easing of restrictions would then happen in stages, with business activity in the NT resuming before border restrictions were relaxed.
"It will happen not a moment later than it needs to, and not a moment sooner," Mr Gunner said.
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Will border controls stay?
Monday will mark two weeks since the last confirmed case of COVID-19 in the NT, but the NT's COVID-19 team says border control measures will remain in place for the "foreseeable future".
"They are the most effective way of preventing spread into the NT community," a spokeswoman said.
"We will consider adjusting restrictions only when clinical advice indicates it is in the best interest of the Northern Territory community to do so."
Health Minister Natasha Fyles agreed and said while she knew the strict measures in place were "tiring", it was important for Territorians to continue to do the right thing — and for tourists to stay away — in order to keep people in the Territory safe.
"The Northern Territory is in a unique position, it's one of the safest places in the world — we want to keep it that way," she said.
How do I get tested in the NT?
- If you can't contact or get to your GP, but you have the symptoms, you should call 1800 008 002
- This is a dedicated NT-wide coronavirus (COVID-19) number for people who need to arrange testing only
- If you live in Darwin and need to arrange testing, call the Public Health Unit on 8922 8044
- Patients who are tested should remain isolated at home until they receive their test results
- For general advice, Territorians can call 1800 020 080
What you need to know about coronavirus:
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