The Northern Territory has recorded its first new case of COVID-19 in almost three months.
The Darwin man, aged in his 30s, is a returned traveller who undertook a two-week quarantine period in Melbourne before staying with family in one of the city's identified coronavirus hotspots while awaiting a flight home.
The man took Qantas flight QF836 from Melbourne to Brisbane, then Brisbane to Darwin.
The man is now in isolation at Royal Darwin Hospital and authorities are undergoing contact tracing to notify passengers on board the flight.
The territory's Health Minister Natasha Fyles has reassured the community of the minimal risk of community transmission.
"I can understand Territorians will be anxious and alarmed hearing this news today but it's a considerable period of time since April when we last updated the community that we had a locally diagnosed case," Ms Fyles said.
"We have to understand that we're stepping forward into what is our new normal."
NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie said the new case is a reminder to people to stay vigilant and avoid the spread of the virus.
"This is important message that we do have another case that's in the Territory and a reminder to all Territorians that this has not gone away," he said.
NT borders to remain open despite new case
Ms Fyles said the NT's new case of COVID-19 is not a reason to close borders.
Despite the new case coming from Melbourne, Ms Fyles said the territory must continue to work toward returning life to normal.
"In going forward, we don't have a cure or vaccine, we need to step forward to the new normal," she said.
"Right now we're seeing an outbreak in Victoria in very specific local government areas in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, but going forward, this could change."
Ms Fyles said the NT would go ahead with plans to relax restrictions and reopen the state despite the new case.
"We need to be practical, we need to listen to that clinical advice, and so going forward for the Northern Territory, on July 17, the quarantine will change to those local government areas.
"But, of course, we will make sure that in stepping that forward to the new normal, we listen to the clinical advice from our experts."
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