A planeload of Australian citizens caught up in the coronavirus quarantining process are expected to arrive in Darwin on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
About 200 Australian residents, according to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, will be taken to a disused workers' village in Darwin.
Mr Hunt said the flight coming from the cruise ship was a humanitarian effort.
"We cannot allow people to return without quarantine, so it is our task to bring them home," he said.
"We are reaching out and protecting those who need support from being overseas and, through no fault of their own, being caught up in what is an international epidemic.
"At this stage, they are coming to Howard Springs and there is no question about that.
"The AUSMAT team has put in place very strong protections."
No-one currently being quarantined at the Howard Springs facility, or due to arrive on the incoming flight, have tested positive for the virus.
Australia's chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, thanked Territorians for helping with the quarantining effort and said efforts would be made to ensure the local community was kept safe.
"We are going to quarantine them in a completely separate part of the facility, separated by a fence from the first lot, but again, well away from anyone in the community … hundreds of metres away," he said.
"I can be absolutely confident that they will be very well looked after here — in much better facilities than being in a tiny cabin on a cruise ship — and will be well looked after by the 24-hour medical assistance.
"The community will be completely protected."
The federal and NT governments are expected to provide further updates in the coming days.
