NT home quarantine allowed as Todd facility nears capacity

Angela Harrison and her son, Michael, are delighted to be finishing their mandatory quarantine at home. (Supplied: Angela Harrison)

Alice Springs residents have been allowed to leave the town's rapidly filling mandatory quarantine centre to isolate in their own homes as more COVID-19 hotspots are declared around the country.

Angela Harrison and her son, Michael, were holidaying in Melbourne when lockdown was declared on Thursday, July 15.

The following Monday, when it became apparent that the lockdown would be extended past the original five days, Ms Harrison decided that it would be sensible to return to Alice Springs.

"So we came home on Tuesday and went straight into the Todd facility," she said.

"My son is in his final year of high school and we didn't want him to miss too much of this critical third term."

Ms Harrison and Michael in mandatory hotel quarantine after returning from Melbourne. (Supplied: Angela Harrison)

The pair spent four and a half days at the Todd facility, which Ms Harrison said was "comfortable", despite the visible security presence.

"We had a balcony and a view," she said.

Michael is in his final year of school. (Supplied: Angela Harrison)

No place like home

On Saturday evening, Ms Harrison received an official inquiry about her living situation.

"I asked if there was a chance for us to be able to home quarantine," she said.

"I was told that they were preparing information about Northern Territory residents who might be able to home quarantine to free up space at the facility."

Ms Harrison said once they had approval to leave the facility it was a long wait on Sunday.

Under watch

Ms Harrison was told to download the Good to Go Now app, a digital monitoring system that has been used in Western Australia for many months.

Angela Harrison's Good to go now app- a monitoring tool to ensure compliance during home quarantine. (Supplied: Angela Harrison)

"Once you activate the app, then you had a visit from a police officer at the door who took a photo of you and that goes into the app," she said.

Ms Harrison said that she expected to receive random calls and texts via the app.

"You must respond with a photo of yourself into the app that has GPS locational data, and you must respond within five minutes," she said.

"If you don't, then you'll get another call.

Ms Harrison said the overall experience was not as bad as it could have been but she was very happy to be home.

"It's absolutely fantastic," she said.

"I've never felt so good."

Ms Harrison and her son will need to get tested on day 11 of quarantine and three days after they have finished.