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Steps to the new normal for businesses

All businesses are required to lodge a COVID-19 Safety Plan by filling out the relevant checklists available.

If you are a Northern Territory (NT) business or organisation that has been impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, the NT Government has created steps to help you restart your business while managing your safety responsibilities around coronavirus (COVID-19).

Gradual adjustments to restrictions are possible now because NT borders remain closed to interstate and overseas arrivals.

You must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan to show how you will meet your requirements around the key principles of physical distancing and hygiene practices.

By completing the online COVID-19 Safety Plan checklist relevant to your business or organisation, you will be able to demonstrate how you will meet the required physical distancing and hygiene rules.

If your business or organisation has multiple locations, you must apply for each premises.

  • The following types of business, community organisations and public facilities may operate from 15 May with a Safety Plan in place:

    • Food businesses
    • Personal services Businesses
    • Some community organisations
    • Some sporting and active recreation activities

    How to get started

    Food businesses

    For example bars, restaurants and cafes:

    Personal services businesses

    For example beauty therapy, massage therapy, nail salons:

    Businesses and community organisations

    For example art galleries, libraries, community organisations and places of religious worship:

    Sport and active recreation organisations

    For example swimming clubs, gyms, sports clubs, dance studios, fitness studios:

    After you apply

    Once you submit your checklist, you will immediately be emailed a summary of your submission which you can use/ display as an interim approval until you receive a statement of commitment. This may take up to 14 days.

    Compliance check

    An environmental health officer will visit you in the coming weeks to carry out a compliance check to ensure you are meeting your responsibilities as outlined in your COVID-19 safety plan.

  • For businesses and facilities that

    continued to operate during the pandemic  - Option 1

    or

    are restricted and are allowed to reopen from 5 June - Option 2

    How to get started - if you continued to operate

    Some businesses continued to be allowed to operate largely unrestricted.

    This includes, but is not limited to:

    • government departments
    • trades
    • hairdressers
    • supermarkets
    • allied health services.

    These operations must complete a Safety Plan checklist.

    The checklist assists in planning how to operate within the key principles for the new normal.

    How to get started - if you are allowed to reopen

    All businesses still restricted may recommence from noon on 5 June 2020. A general business guideline and checklist is available as well as tailored, industry-specific guidelines and checklists  to guide your planning on how to operate in line with the new normal.

    Guidelines will be available soon when the CHO Direction is published.

  • In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the Northern Territory Government has implemented a staged lifting of restrictions.

    The recommencement of events and public gatherings is founded upon physical distancing and hygiene principles to protect the community from the spread of COVID-19.

    A major public event is an event or public gathering that is ticketed or open to the public at a private location or a public place.

    It is important that you keep informed about the Directions of the Chief Health Officer and any restrictions that relate to the types of activities that you may undertake.

    There are different requirements depending on the size of your event.

    Read more about events and gatherings to find out your responsibilities when organising an event or public gathering.