Australian Territory Bans Unvaccinated From Going To Work & Outdoor Exercise...Through The Weekend

Those unvaccinated people in Australia's Northern Territory received news Thursday that they will face new COVID lockdown rules through the weekend, but these rules are much different from previous lockdowns from the government. This time, unvaccinated citizens will be banned from going to work or going outside for exercise from 1 p.m. Thursday until mid-day on Monday.

That's right, no work or going outside for exercise.

"The fully vaccinated can continue as they were," Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced during an address to the Northern Territory. "For people who are not vaccinated, lockdown rules will apply to everyone aged 16 and above."

"We're doing this early as a sustainable measure that provides the best ability to control community transmission and who ends up in our hospitals."

The government announced there are just three reasons for unvaccinated people to leave their homes this weekend. Those rules for the unvaccinated include:

• Medical treatment for COVID testing or vaccination

• For essential goods and services like groceries

• To take care of someone who is in need or who cannot support themselves

That's it through the weekend. No work or outdoor exercise.

As of Thursday, the Northern Territory had 23 people in the hospital with COVID and two people in the ICU, according to the Australian Broadcasting Company. The Northern Territory has a population of around 250,000 residents.

Monday, when the weekend COVID rules end, the territory will institute a vaccine passport system that will be monitored by "authorities" who will be looking for the unvaccinated.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker announced that unvaccinated citizens who try to enter businesses will be penalized.

"There will not be an 'education first' approach for those people when the pass comes into play," Chalker told ABC-Australia.

What happens to unvaccinated workers after the weekend?

Well, if you go by the escalation from Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner's rhetoric since November, it doesn't seem out of the question that his administration will continue to lockdown the unvaccinated. Take his word for it. Listen to what he said in November.