Sports fans from across Australia will not be permitted to attend the coveted Tiwi Islands footy grand final this weekend as authorities work to minimise the risk of coronavirus.
Non-Tiwi residents have been urged not to travel to the NT island community with the exemption of officials, support staff and media outlets with valid permits.
Entry to Wurrumiyanga and other Tiwi Islands communities will also be permissible for the delivery of emergency and essential services.
In a statement released by the Office of Township Leasing for the Tiwi Islands, they wrote that the decision was made to protect those who are vulnerable in the community.
The Tapalinga Superstars run onto the field for the Tiwi Islands football grand final last year. Source: AAP
"The restriction of entry is currently in place for Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 of March 2020," the statement said.
"The decision has been requested by the traditional owners who are concerned about protecting their elders and others who are vulnerable due to health conditions.
"Regrettably, due to the risk to public health currently posed by the potential spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, attendance at the 2020 Grand Final will be restricted to local residents only."
Blow to local economy
This year is the 50th anniversary of the grand final and coincides with the annual art fair featuring artworks from all the art centres on the islands and typically draws thousands from across Australia.
Tiwi Football League match manager Chris Smith said while the travel restrictions will be a blow to the local economy, people on the island will still come in droves.
"We're going to proceed with the game regardless and everyone is excited and we're eager to see how the match goes," Mr Smith said.
"I think there's usually about $50,000 that gets injected into the island from this event which is a massive loss but it doesn't change the football.
Thousands of fans usually come to the event. Source: AAP
"We have a junior match, a senior match and then the grand final tomorrow and we'll be getting up and kicking things off from about 8.30am."
Grand final to kick on
Sunday's grand final will be between the Ranku Eagles and Tapalinga Superstars.
"We still have a thousand people coming, most of the people come from the other islands," Mr Smith said.
"Everybody who plays thinks it's a privilege to play. Their grandfathers and fathers played and they're excited to be representing their clan group."
On Friday, ferry services and chartered flights cancelled their travel plans to the island, taking to social media to apologise to customers and arrange refunds.
The decision comes after Australia's Chief Medical Officer .
More than 200 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Australia with three deaths. At least 23 people have recovered.
Only one person has tested positive in the NT with no records of community spread.
He remains in isolation at the Royal Darwin Hospital.
