Northern NSW Local Health District has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the region. There have also been positive detection of COVID fragments at Ballina and Wardell sewage treatment plants (STP).
Anyone who attended the following venue at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since they were there, regardless of the result. NSW Health sends a text message to people who have checked in at close contact venues with further information.
Close contact venue
Kingscliff – Salt Bar Beachbar and Bistro, 1 Bells Boulevard, on Saturday 18 September 6.40pm to 8pm
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed are considered a casual contact and must get tested and isolate until they get a negative result.
Casual contact venues
Byron Bay – Combi, 5b/21 – 25 Fletcher Street, Saturday 18 September 9.45am to 10.15am
Byron Bay – Assembly Label, 28 Jonson Street, Saturday 18 September 10.40am to 11am
Byron Bay – Orgasmic Food Byron Bay, 11 Bay Lane, Saturday 18 September 12.30pm to 1pm
Casuarina – Casuarina Health and Lifestyle Pharmacy, 10/482 Casuarina Way, Saturday 18 September 2.15pm to 2.30pm
Kingscliff – Peppers Salt Resort and Spa – Reception Area, Bells Boulevard, Saturday 18 September 2.30pm to 2.50pm
Kingscliff – Saltbean Café, 12 Bells Boulevard, Sunday 19 September 7.40am to 8am; Sunday 19 September 10.15am to 10.45am and Monday 20 September 7.40am to 8am
If you are directed to get tested for COVID-19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules given to you by Health staff, whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.
Please continue to check this page regularly, as the list of venues of concern and relevant health advice are being updated as new cases emerge and investigations continue.
Testing Numbers and Sewage detections
To the week ending 18 September, there were more than 8,000 COVID-19 tests reported among residents of the Northern NSW Local Health District, compared to 4,976 tests the previous week. To detect any further potential COVID-19 cases in these areas, we are calling on the community to come forward for testing in large numbers.
Fragments of the COVID-19 virus was again detected in the Wardell and Ballina sewage treatment plants, from samples taken on 19 September. This is the second detection in recent days for these sites.
We urge people in these communities to come forward for testing if they have even mild cold-like symptoms, and isolate until a negative result is received.
Extra testing clinics are open this week across the region:
- QML Drive through testing clinic – TAFE NSW Kingscliff, 806 Cudgen Road, open from 9am to 4pm
- QML Drive through testing clinic – Cavanbah Sports Ground, Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay, open from 9am-4pm
- Cabbage Tree Island Health Post, open from 10am – 3pm
There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.
Lockdown for Byron and Tweed
Stay-at-home orders Stay-at-home orders have now been introduced for the Byron Shire and Tweed Local Government Areas (LGAs) from 5pm today for seven days due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk.
These stay-at-home orders also apply to anyone who has been in an affected LGA since the following dates: Byron LGA on 18 September and Tweed LGA on 18 September.
Everyone in the affected LGAs must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can’t work or study at home.
If you are fully vaccinated
People who are fully vaccinated can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five people for exercise or outdoor recreation, if all of those aged 16 or older are fully vaccinated.
‘We are reminding the community that anyone who has been in an area which has stay at home restrictions is required to abide by the stay at home restrictions even after they leave that area,’ said a NNSWHD spokesperson.
More information about the current restrictions for various parts of NSW is available here at NSW Health COVID-19 rules.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
Eighteen schools in the Northern Rivers division of Richmond have received $25,000 each as part of the federal government’s School Upgrade Fund, Labor Member for Richmond Justine Elliot said last week. COVID-19 reversed earlier trends toward longer life expectancies. During the pandemic, life expectancies globally dropped by 1.6 years according to a new study published in the Lancet medical journal. Let’s not forget that Covid-19 is still a big issue in our community with 31,935 cases reported across Australia in the last week – an average of 4,562 cases per day. 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.
Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need
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It’s National Volunteer Week
Have you ever noticed that the Covid testing locations are never listed as a venue of concern? Surely thats the only place we know for sure the positive “case” has visited.