People in the NT will no longer need to prove they're fully vaccinated to order a beer at the pub or enter a licensed venue.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles today announced the NT's vaccine pass system would be scrapped, effective immediately.
Ms Fyles said the decision was made off the back of current health advice, which showed the NT had a "largely vaccinated community" and it was "proportionate" to remove the requirement.
"The advice was that we could safely remove the need to be vaccinated [to enter a licensed venue]," she said.
"The Northern Territory is taking it another step forward to learning to live with COVID."
Hospitality NT CEO Alex Bruce said the announcement was "great news" which had been "very much welcomed by the hospitality industry".
"We're looking forward to cracking onto the dry season," he said.
However, Ms Fyles urged Territorians not to "not to relax too much" as daily COVID-19 numbers had been "creeping up slowly" since the emergence of the BA.2 sub-variant.
The NT today recorded 550 new cases of COVID-19, 508 of which were from positive rapid antigen tests (RATs).
Ms Fyles said hospitalisation numbers had remained "stagnant" as cases grew.
"We're seeing the BA.2 variant is more transmissible, but we're not seeing an increase in the severity of illness presently," Ms Fyles said.
"We're certainly watching that closely."
There are currently 18 patients with COVID-19 in NT hospitals, with two people needing oxygen and one in intensive care.
NT flags future mask mandates to stop spread
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the current surge in cases was "very Darwin-centric".
Of the 550 new cases reported today across the NT, 445 were in the Top End.
"The climb is not happening in other parts of the Northern Territory," he said.
Territory-wide, there are now 2,951 active cases of coronavirus.
Ms Fyles flagged "short, sharp" regional mask mandates could be introduced in future to help slow potential spread.
"We still are in that public health emergency, that global pandemic, and [Territorians] shouldn't assume that all measures are done with that there could be the potential for some to come back," she said.
Ms Fyles said any future mask mandate would likely last "a few weeks and be very particular about the location and the settings".
She said the trigger for re-introducing a requirement to wear masks would likely be a combination of rising hospitalisations and cases numbers.
Ms Fyles also didn't rule out the re-introduction of the vaccine pass system in future.
"We'll keep that IT infrastructure there but we have certainly got no place for it presently," she said.
No plans to scrap vaccine mandate
In the NT, it's mandatory for workers in certain settings to have three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
People employed in high-risk settings such as hospital and aged care facilities needed their booster by March 11, and those who may encounter vulnerable people or work in logistics must have three doses by April 22.
Ms Fyles said the NT had no current plans to scrap its vaccine mandate.
"The vaccine is our key, it is the long term measure that will keep us safe," she said.
"In those higher risk settings, we need to ensure that our workers are vaccinated so that they're at less risk of transmitting COVID but also catching it."
Ms Fyles reminded Territorians to roll up their sleeves for their booster, if they hadn't already.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is also recommending a fourth COVID jab for anyone 65 years and older and those who live in aged care or disability care facilities.
Mr Gunner said he had "no bias" about whether the NTG would mandate a fourth vaccine in future and he would wait for future health advice before making a decision.
"At some stage it's like the flu shot, we recommend [vaccination] for certain ages or certain people who have heath condition X or health condition Y, I haven't got that advice either," he said.
"My preference would be don't mandate the fourth vaccine, we'll only do that if we have to."
