NSW will introduce new rules from 12.01am Monday, 23 August – including mandatory mask wearing when outside your home, except while exercising, until 28 August in rural and regional areas.
Mask wearing will not apply to children.
If you are not wearing a mask the fine will be $1,000
Byron sewage detection
Although the Northern NSW Local Health District announced on social media this morning that fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been detected in the Byron Bay sewage treatment plant, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he had no knowledge of that information in his daily regional update at 1pm.
Mr Barilaro said that such a detection was not too concerning at this stage. ‘Remembering that you (Byron Bay) had those three people that visited the area, there could be fragments leftover from that.
Mr Barilaro said that a positive sewage test was not enough, on its own, to extend a lockdown, and not enough to stop the area coming out of lockdown next weekend.
‘We’re not that trigger happy. You’d only put any area into lockdown if there is then also a confirmed case. If you lower the benchmark to lockdown off the back of a single detection, we would be locked down forever.
‘If a case has been active in the community and there are exposure sites, then that would lead to a decision for a lockdown.’
Mr Barilaro said that there was a possibility of LGAs within regions being open to each other.
‘I don’t want to keep areas locked down that have no cases, it’s that simple. It just is unfair, and it’s got to be measured against risk versus the mental well being of people being locked down, and the impact it has on long term impacts on businesses.
‘So hopefully we can open up regions, as long as you remain in those regions. Fingers crossed, I’m able to lift all the restrictions in regional rural New South Wales, and only keep those small number of LGAs locked down that are of concern, to give everybody freedom across the rest of the state.’
There were no new cases of COVID-19 reported today in Northern NSW.
NNSWLHD is urging people in the Byron Bay area to get tested if they have even mild symptoms.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
The Global Carbon Budget is about to be refreshed, giving the world a critical insight into how efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are (or are not) progressing. Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September. SW Police are urging festival-goers at this weekend’s music festival to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner, whilst also being aware of COVID-Safety measures. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 4pm yesterday, Sunday May 22, there were 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The AEC says that voters who have recently tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to phone in their vote in the federal election. The Northern NSW Local Health District says that to 4pm yesterday, 15 May, 384 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the District, including 82 positive PCR tests and 302 positive rapid antigen tests. Volunteering Australia says volleys are the backbone of the country in times of crisis and emergency. Today there are 41 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with none of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reports that there are 37 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with one of these in ICU. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that in the 24 hours to 4pm yesterday, 1 May, 274 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the area, including 56 positive PCR tests and 218 positive rapid antigen tests
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