Chief Health Officer Directions
On 18 March 2020 the Minister for Health declared a public health emergency under section 48 of the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 (the Act) in relation to COVID-19.
When a public health emergency declaration is in force, the Chief Health Officer (CHO) can use their emergency powers under the Act. The CHO’s emergency powers mean that the CHO may take the actions (including giving oral or written directions) they consider necessary, appropriate or desirable to alleviate the public health emergency.
The CHO has made a number of directions that he considers to be necessary, appropriate or desirable to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the Northern Territory.
The CHO’s directions are laws. It is an offence to contravene a direction of the CHO.
Current Chief Health Officer Directions
CHO Directions since 1 January 2021
| CHO direction | Subject | Time | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2021 | Directions for Wearing Face Masks in Aircraft and Airports PDF (219.5 KB) | 00:01am | 20 January 2021 |
| 2/2021 | Amendment to COVID-19 Directions No. 49 - 2020 PDF (223.5 KB) | 00:01am | 20 January 2021 |
| 3/2021 | Maritime Crew PDF (255.2 KB) | 12:01am | 17 March 2021 |
| 4/2021 | Cruise vessels PDF (553.1 KB) | 12:01pm | 26 March 2021 |
| 5/2021 | Cruise vessels PDF (549.0 KB) | 12.54pm | 15 April 2021 |
| 6/2021 | Directions for Quarantine Workers PDF (986.2 KB) Procedure for COVID-19 testing of quarantine workers as authorised by the CHO PDF (489.7 KB) | 12.00pm | 23 April 2021 |
| 7/2021 | Directions for Aged Care Facilities PDF (2.0 MB) | 2:34pm | 3 June 2021 |
| 8/2021 | CHO Directions No 8 of 2021 Directions for Territory Border Restrictions PDF (5.2 MB) | 12:01am | 5 June 2021 |