The Northern Territory has had a longstanding problem recruiting and retaining health staff in its major centres and remote communities — and for seven of the past nine years, the NT government has overspent its own health budget.

Key points: To date, the Territory has detected five cases of COVID-19

To date, the Territory has detected five cases of COVID-19 The only two pandemic clinics currently open in the Territory are at Royal Darwin and Katherine Hospitals

The only two pandemic clinics currently open in the Territory are at Royal Darwin and Katherine Hospitals The NT's coronavirus clinical hotline — 1800 008 002 — is getting more than 900 calls a day

Yesterday Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced strict new coronavirus border controls to halt the COVID-19 spread, restrictions which are likely to remain in place for six months.

But what is NT Health's plan to cope with COVID-19?

The current situation in the NT

To date, the Territory has detected five cases of COVID-19 — four of which were confirmed in the past 48 hours.

On March 4, a 52-year-old Sydney tourist tested positive to coronavirus while in Darwin.

On March 20, two Territorians — a Darwin man in his 30s who returned home from Europe and a 21-year-old woman who returned from the United States — both tested positive to the virus.

And a Northern Territory couple who disembarked from the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney and flew to Darwin tested positive to COVID-19 on March 21.

All five patients currently remain at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) and so far there has been no community transmission in the Territory..

One patient has been at RDH since March 4, when he tested positive to COVID-19. ( Supplied: Jack Bullen )

However the NT's deputy chief health officer Dianne Stephens said the Territory would get more cases and it needed to be prepared.

A drive-through testing clinic at the Manigurr-Ma Village in Howard Springs is expected to open tomorrow, Dr Stephens said.

The village will house people with "mild cases" of coronavirus who aren't sick enough to be hospitalised.

Territorians who aren't sick but need to self-isolate and can't do it at home (because they live with vulnerable people or have no fixed address) can also stay at the Howard Springs facility, and will be put in a separate section to people who have tested positive to COVID-19.

The facility was previously used to quarantine evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise, but this mission was led by the Federal Government and managed by Australian Border Force Commander and Australian Medical Assistance Teams.

But when the 1,000-bed Howard Springs facility re-opens next week, it will be managed and funded by NT Health.

Despite the shift in management, Dr Stephens says she is "not anticipating any issues in relation to staffing numbers" at the site.

"We will adopt a phased approach to the opening of the Howard Springs facility," she said.

"This will see us drawing on existing departmental resources, using both clinical and non-clinical personnel."

What about pandemic clinics?

The only two pandemic clinics currently open in the Territory are at Royal Darwin and Katherine hospitals, NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles confirmed.

The NT's coronavirus hotline — 1800 008 002 — a number which is only for clinical advice or to arrange testing, is getting more than 900 calls a day.

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NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles on Tuesday said across the Territory, staffing "was a challenge". ( ABC News: Alan Dowler )

NT COVID-19 snapshot Cases detected in the NT: 30

Cases detected in the NT: 30 Tests conducted: 5,527

Tests conducted: 5,527 People recovered: 28 Get the latest information from the SecureNT website.

While some calls had gone unanswered, Ms Fyles said on Tuesday the NT Government had made steps to improve issues, including proactive measures to boost staffing numbers.

"Staffing those clinics is a priority for us, it's certainly something that we are concerned about," she said.

"Across the NT, staff is a challenge for us."

Pandemic clinics in Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy will open as required, Ms Fyles said.

But the NT's chief health officer Hugh Heggie said there were "currently no staffing shortages in relation to the Territory for the planned pandemic clinics".

"We currently have sufficient staff in all of the professional streams which might be called on to deal with the spread of Coronavirus in the NT," he said.

"Planning for the virus and its possible spread here has been underway since January."

Dr Heggie said the level of staffing in each clinic — regarding both clinical and non-clinical workers — would be based on demand.

He did, however, warn Territorians that there were "going to experience changes" at public hospitals across the Territory.

Yesterday Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced strict new coronavirus border controls to halt the COVID-19 spread. ( ABC News: Bridget Judd )

On Friday, Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals started postponing elective surgery and restricting visiting hours in an attempt to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission to patients.

Category-two and three elective surgery has now been postponed, but category-one elective surgery continues — for now.

Dr Heggie said there would be a "re-prioritisation of surgery and the modification of outpatient services to ensure critical services continued to be delivered.

"Staff will also undergo additional training to better prepare them for the possible spread of COVID-19 in the Territory," he said.

"We are confident about the level of preparations in the Territory. They are in line with the preparations of health staff across the country.

"Importantly, the Territory has been granted more breathing space than other jurisdictions because of the number the low number of coronavirus cases confirmed here so far."

Fyles on budget woes

Ms Fyles said NT Health was "most likely" to run over its annual budget "again" this year due to the evolving pandemic situation.

"The Chief Minister also said this week in a press event the NT Government will be spending what it needs to spend to protect Territorians and do what we need to do to manage the health pandemic and associated strain on the economy," Ms Fyles added.

"If health needs more resources, then resources to our hardworking health staff will be provided."

How do I get tested in the NT? If you can't contact or get to your GP, but you have the symptoms, you should call 1800 008 002

If you can't contact or get to your GP, but you have the symptoms, you should call 1800 008 002 This is a dedicated NT-wide coronavirus (COVID-19) number for people who need to arrange testing only

This is a dedicated NT-wide coronavirus (COVID-19) number for people who need to arrange testing only If you live in Darwin and need to arrange testing, call the Public Health Unit on 8922 8044

If you live in Darwin and need to arrange testing, call the Public Health Unit on 8922 8044 Patients who are tested should remain isolated at home until they receive their test results

Patients who are tested should remain isolated at home until they receive their test results For general advice, Territorians can call 1800 020 080 Latest information from SecureNT website