Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Deputy Chief Health Officer Dianne Stephens say — at this stage — Territorians will still be able to buy a laksa at the Mindil Markets this dry season, but shouldn't stick around to watch the sunset.

Key points: The NT still only has one confirmed case of COVID-19

The NT still only has one confirmed case of COVID-19 NT Health has done more than 500 tests to date

NT Health has done more than 500 tests to date For the latest advice on coronavirus from NT authorities click here

Mr Gunner said for the next six months or so, measures to minimise the spread of coronavirus in Australia would see large-scale events in the NT cancelled, but that does not mean Territorians will have to miss out on the markets.

"It's whether you are static or not, similar to why a train station is OK — it's the movement of people through it," Mr Gunner explained.

He said people would still be allowed to walk through markets in Darwin — including Parap Markets and Mindil Markets when it opened — but shouldn't queue for long periods of time or sit down at Mindil Beach in close proximity to other people.

"Be sensible, don't congregate for a long period of time," Dr Stephens said.

"If you are static with someone for longer than 15 minutes, you are in close contact.

"If you're not well, don't go. Don't shake hands, don't hug people, but just go about your regular business."

The NT's Acting Chief Health Officer Dianne Stephens says the Territory must consider the latest advice from national health authorities. ( ABC News: Michael Franchi )

The NT still only has one confirmed case of COVID19. A 52-year-old who tested positive to COVID-19 on March 4 remains at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Dr Stephens said NT Health had done more than 500 tests to date, and was only testing people who met the criteria for testing.

The turnaround time for each test is about four hours, Dr Stephens added, but getting tests results back from remote communities takes longer as the test has to be transported from the community itself.

"Yes [the NT Health system] will be stretched, but we will get through this, it will go back to normal in six or so months," she said.

"We will have coronavirus in our community, and we will recover from it."

Major events postponed

The NT Government this afternoon announced major events across the Norther Territory would be postponed.

The Government said it had taken the measures in the Federal Government's COVID-19 advice against holding events of 500 people or more.

An artist's impression of how the 'Parrtjima: A Festival In Light' show is likely to appear on the West MacDonnell Ranges. ( Supplied: NT Major Events Company )

Bass in the Grass, the NT's major popular music festival, was originally scheduled for May 23 and has been pushed back to October.

Parrtjima — A Festival in Light in Alice Springs, which was set for April, has been rescheduled to September.

The NT Government said specific dates for the festivals would be confirmed in the coming days.

Refund details for anyone who cannot attend the rescheduled events will be announced once the new dates have been chosen.

The NT Government also said that decisions around the rescheduling of other upcoming events, such as the Supercars and AFL and NRL matches in the Northern Territory, would be "made in conjunction with the governing bodies of the partners involved".

For further information, event organisers can call the Mass Gatherings Hotline on 1800 518 055 during business hours for assistance.

The remote picture

Dr Stephens said, to date, there had been no community transmissions in the Northern Territory.

"At the moment we are putting in a whole lot of measures to reduce the risk of getting this into remote communities," she said.

People returning to Australia from overseas will have to self-isolate for 14 days. ( Supplied: Adobe Stock )

Mr Gunner said in the public service, the NT Government had halted all interstate travel barring "exceptional circumstances" and reduced work travel within the territory to essential travel only.

"Today we are saying that all non-essential travel to remote communities needs to stop, travel to remote communities must be for an essential service or for the supply and maintenance of essential goods and services," he said.

"This decision will be enforced in partnership with the land councils under the Aboriginal Land Act [Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act].

"I want to send a clear message to our fellow Territorians living in remote communities: we are not leaving you alone."

Mr Gunner said Territorians were safest in their home communities, and said he had directed senior officials to consider further protocols for remote community access.

"If you don't need to travel out of your community then don't," he said.

What should Territorians do?

Across Australia, static, non-essential, organised public gatherings of more than 500 people have been banned.

Despite this, Dr Stephens said schools were still safe and urged NT parents to keep their children in classes.

"In fact our schools are the best place for our children to be," she said.

"We're hoping to get to the school holiday period break without having any impact on school attendance.

"We will not be closing schools in the Northern Territory unless that situation changes."

Yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said anyone returning to Australia from overseas would be required to self-isolate for two weeks, and cruise ships from foreign ports would be banned from docking in Australia.

Mr Gunner said in the NT, this would be enforced under the notifiable diseases act, and people who did not comply could face up to six months in prison.

"We have got powers of enforcement, we are not expecting to use it," he said.

The NT now has a dedicated COVID-19 hotline number (1800 008 002), and people in Darwin can call the Public Health Unit on 8922 8044 to arrange testing.

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An economic impact

Today, Mr Gunner is hosting a summit for Territory business leaders which aims to help reduce the impact on businesses and workers from the coronavirus.

"We know this is a health crisis but that's not where it ends. The fact is our economy is going to take a hit from this. We can't stop the hit, but we can make sure we are still standing at the end," Mr Gunner said.

"This virus will whack both the revenue and the expenditure side of the budget.

"Later today we'll release an update on the status of events run by government that are on the horizon, whether they are going ahead, cancelled, postponed or amended."

Foodbank NT CEO Peter Pilt said they were seeing an increase in demand for services. ( ABC News: Jano Gibson )

Foodbank NT CEO Peter Pilt said they supported 94 charities, and needed more support as demand increased.

"Demand has increased as the Darwin economy at the moment is on a decline," he said.

"We are seeing the demand for our services and our food increase with the coronavirus."

He urged Territorians to be kind to each other.