The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is encouraging residents and visitors to Byron Bay to get tested for COVID-19, after being notified of a number of confirmed cases in the area during the last week.
Northern NSW Local HealthDistrict, Chief Executive, Wayne Jones, says these cases were infectious in the Byron Bay community from Saturday 20 November to Thursday 25 November and have since left the area. ‘They are not associated with the Aquarius Backpackers in Byron Bay, and are linked to an existing case outside the District.’
Contact tracing is underway, and close contacts are being notified directly by NSW Health.
‘More than 80 QR check-ins have been recorded in association with these cases across the Byron Bay business district’, says Mr Jones. ‘Including the West Byron industrial estate and a number of nearby hospitality and tourism venues.
‘In line with the state-wide protocols, people who have been at a venue at the same time as a positive case will receive an alert through the ServiceNSW app.
Mr Jones says that given the high volume of location alerts, Northern NSW Local Health District is encouraging anyone who has been in the Byron Bay area between 20 and 25 November to get tested for COVID-19. ‘If you do not have any symptoms, you do not need to isolate while awaiting your test result.
New case on the Tweed
One new case of COVID-19 was reported for Northern NSW Local Health District to 8pm, Friday, November 26.
The case is in the Tweed Local Government Area and is a household contact of an existing case.
No new cases of COVID-19 were reported for Northern NSW Local Health District to 8pm, Saturday, November 27.
Mr Jones says anyone in the community who develops even mild symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested and isolate immediately even if they are fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 symptoms can include:
• a slightly runny nose
• fever
• cough
• scratchy or sore throat
• shortness of breath
• loss of taste, smell or appetite
• fatigue
• nasal congestion
• muscle or joint pain
• headache
• diarrhoea
• nausea or vomiting
• unexplained chest pain
• conjunctivitis
Testing clinics in and around Byron Bay
• QML Pathology drive-through, Cavanbah Sports Ground, Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay. Open Saturday and Sunday, 9am – 2pm.
• Byron Central Hospital, Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay. Open seven days a week, 9am – 5pm.
• Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 1 Byron Street, Byron Bay. Open Monday – Friday 7am – 4pm, closed weekends.
• Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Shop 4 Ocean Shores Shopping Village, 84 Rajah Road, Ocean Shores. Open Monday – Friday, 7.30am – 3.30pm. Closed weekends
• Sullivan Nicolaides Mullumbimby, 125 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. Open Monday – Friday, 7am – 3pm. Closed weekends.
Find your nearest testing clinic on the NSW Government website.
Grafton Base Hospital testing clinic location change
The Grafton Base Hospital COVID-19 testing clinic is moving to a new location from today, Monday, November 29.
The clinic will be located in the Training Building, at 120 North Street, Grafton which is located opposite the corner of North and Mary Streets.
The clinic will continue to be open seven days a week from 9am – 5pm.
There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic on the NSW Government website or contact your GP.
Aquarius Backpackers
Northern NSW Local Health District is continuing to support guests and staff at the Aquarius Backpackers in Byron Bay, in conjunction with other agencies, after a person at the venue tested positive for COVID-19 early last week.
All initial tests from contacts at the venue have now been processed, and no positive results have been received.
Health staff are working closely with guests to determine appropriate isolation settings for each person and provide advice on requirements.
A number of guests have now left the premises, with approval from NSW Health, and there are fewer than 60 people remaining on site.
All close contacts will undergo mandatory day-six testing on Monday 29 November, and final determinations about isolation requirements will be made once those results are known.
While the fact that no new cases have been identified so far is welcome news for health authorities and the Byron community, the NNSWLHD continue to urge residents and visitors to take COVID-safe measures when out and about.
These include wearing masks where appropriate, checking in with QR codes, washing hands regularly or using hand sanitizer, and not going out if unwell.
We know that active cases continue to be present in the community from time to time. A public health alert has been issued for anyone who was in Byron Bay between 20 and 25 November to come forward for testing as a precautionary measure. If you do not have symptoms, you do not need to isolate while awaiting your result.
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