Update 12.55pm 16 September:
The stay-at-home orders for seven days will also apply to anyone who has been in Lismore since 7 September due to recent COVID-19 exposures.
‘With movement, a case can [make an area] go back into lockdown as we’ve seen in Lismore… A more nuanced approach with a seven day restriction [has been used] at this stage,’ says Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro.
‘There is one case in Lismore. It seems that there were a number of exposure sites and that’s why we are concerned.
‘There are no further cases that they are aware of. There may be more exposure sites. Will have more to say this afternoon. We will have to look at these impacts this afternoon.’
The Evans Head exposure site is in the Richmond Valley Council LGA however, Barilaro said that they are taking a flexible approach.
‘The case is in Lismore,’ he said.
‘We will have a look a the exposure site in the Richmond Valley but I’d be almost certain that the Richmond Valley won’t go into lockdown.’
A NBNSWLHD spokesperson clarified that ‘Everyone in the Lismore LGA 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.
‘Lismore residents who are fully vaccinated can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five people for exercise or outdoor recreation as long as all of those aged 16 or older are fully vaccinated.’
Original story:
Lismore local government area (LGA) is going into lockdown for seven days from 6pm tonight following a positive case of COVID-19 in Goonellabah yesterday.
New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it may be longer depending on how many people come forward for testing.
‘Testing is encouraged… if local residents don’t come out to get tested then we will operate on a more cautionary principle,’ he said at today’s press conference.
‘Get tested if have any symptoms, if you have been near any contact areas get tested.’
Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro said that ‘We know there was a parent that returned back to Lismore with a child. There was exposure at a school.’
’I understand that it was a parent returning a child home [from Sydney].
Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Marianne Gale said that the ‘Main driver is because of the exposure in the school and community more broadly. Knowing some of the vaccine hesitancy in the area we would have more caution.’
Lismore Mayor Vanessa Ekins told The Echo that ‘while it is difficult for everyone, especially our local businesses that have just opened up, we know that a snap lockdown is effective’.
Exposure sites Lismore and Evans Head
Evans Head:
Muzza’s Milk Bar, 1/5 Oak Street on Sunday 12 September between 1.15pm to 1.45pm.
Lismore:
Silly Solly’s, 185 Keen Street, Tuesday 14 September between 8.55am to 9.00am
Lifeline Shop 71 Magellan Street, Tuesday 14 September between 9.05am to 9.20am.
Border bubble
Mr Barilaro said that the government is looking at the NSW Queensland border bubble saying that they will ‘we will work with the cross border commission… [and look at] how this will impact the border bubble’.
Tweed Shire Mayor told The Echo that ‘This is nerve-wracking for us, to wait and see what this will mean for the Northern Rivers and for the border zone with Queensland.
‘It is the case we have been dreading, and the reason the exclusion zone for the Northern Rivers was so desperately sought.’
NSW
There were 1,351 locally acquired COVID-19 cases and 12 people have died in NSW until 8pm last night.‘
Dr Gale said that there are ‘231 people in ICU with 108 people on ventilation… of the 231 in ICU 177are not vaccinated.’
This madness has got to stop, one kid so called testing positive to Covid 19 and the lives of thousands of good healthy people thrown in to chaos once again. We have
learn to live with this thing. It is not about a Virus or a Pandemic, or a Vaccine, it is about a worldwide ploy to control peoples lives. I havnt seen where Brad Hazzard
has taken a pay cut or Kerry Chant is doing it tough or Barilaro is on the poverty line, what is wrong with these people. You know what, they dont what they are doing.
The only words in their vocabulary is Lockdown or close the Borders. We are now living in a dictarship, our freedom has been taken away. Wake up people, be vocal,
voice your oponion
Good on you,wholeheartedly agree,what an incompetent medical system that can’t even deal with one case!There needs to be a thorough investigation into the AMA, all the vaccination pushers from the pharmaceutical industry and their lobbyists in Parliament,what a ridiculous aggressive cult!
How about we let it rip through Lismore, then have folks dying like drowning? Stretching the hospital system? Passing it on to the more vulnerable? Take a trip to India, or Indonesia to witness unconscionable government neglect of its people
The scam is starting to fall apart.
Sorry to tell you, Rob but it is about a virus. It is about a pandemic. Every outbreak starts with one case.
As you have invited me to be vocal and voice my opinion – A worldwide ploy to control people’s lives! The world’s a festering mess of divergent ideologies that is being hoodwinked into thinking that we are under viral attack.
It is about the virus Rob, no one’s enjoying this but the virus is far nastier than any lockdown. It’s a grass fire that only takes a spark. Live with the virus while we are unprepared? Linking this to about how much someone gets paid? Living in a dictatorship? Emotive stuff that really doesn’t solve anything.
Think Brazil – they’re learning how to live with the virus!
To the moderator : that second sentence should read “Are diverse cultures from across the world really being hoodwinked to believe that this viral attack is a serious threat to our communal well-being?”
To the moderator : that second sentence should read ” is it really that this viral attack is a serious threat to our communal well-being?”
Might be time for a good long look at yourself.
I’ll say chill out, keep immunity high and respect eichother..We need unity in the future not division..dont fall in the rabbithole of this separation of humanity, blaming , shaming, dobbing, disrespecting..no matter how hard it may look..try🙏❤🌻