airport. Photo supplied.
With Ballina and Byron in the midst of the Christmas/New Year influx of domestic tourists in the wake of international travel restrictions, Healthy North Coast, the organisation that delivers the Federal Government’s PHN program on the North Coast, is distributing supplies of reusable cloth face masks for community members and visitors to our region’s popular holiday destinations.
The Christmas holidays are a high-risk period for the spread of COVID-19 due to increased travel and social gatherings. The risk is further heightened by the recent outbreak in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
To help protect our community and our visitors, Healthy North Coast has delivered reusable cloth masks to tourist hubs, including the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and the Byron Visitor Information Centre, 80 Jonson Street, Byron Bay. Mask display stands have been kindly donated by local business, Terry White Chemmart Ballina.
Masks are free of charge and may be collected by visitors as they arrive in the region.
NSW Health strongly encourages everyone to wear a mask in situations where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing, particularly in indoor settings such as planes, public transport and supermarkets.
Healthy North Coast CEO Julie Sturgess says, “As we welcome visitors to our region this holiday period, it’s essential that we remain vigilant to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection.
“Masks are a great added line of defence, in addition to self-isolating (where indicated) and getting tested if you have respiratory symptoms, no matter how mild. Maintaining 1.5-metre physical distancing and good hand hygiene are also important tools in preventing the spread.”
Anyone who has been in a hotspot in the last 14 days should check the NSW Health website regularly for up-to-date advice on self-isolation, monitoring and testing requirements.
Free assessment and COVID-19 testing are available across the North Coast. A full list of testing clinics is available here.
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