There were 244 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWHD) to 8pm 29 December.
Once again the Byron Shire is leading significantly in the numbers at 113 new COVID cases while Tweed Shire has 69. This is followed by Ballina Shire who have 30 new cases, Lismore local government area (LGA) has 15, Clarence Valley Shire has 13, and Kyogle and Richmond Valley Shires both have two new COVID cases.
‘There are 12 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with 3 of these in ICU,’ said a spokesperson for the NNSWHD.
‘Northern NSW Local Health District is urging people to get tested for COVID-19 at the first sign of symptoms and isolate until a negative result is received. All Northern NSW hospital testing clinics are open over the holiday period.’
Clinics run by other providers may have different hours in the holiday period, so please check before attending.
Find your closest testing clinic on the NSW Government website or contact your GP.
Vaccinations and boosters
There has been a general shortage of vaccines and boosters in the region with many places currently waiting for deliveries, however, Ocean Shores Pharmacy say they currently have vaccinations and boosters available.
They are asking people to ensure that they use the MedAdvisor app to book and pre-fill their pre-screening form online.
‘There are approximately ten questions and people need to do them all, not just name and medicare number, so that we can ensure everything runs efficiently. When people do it it helps us out so much. It takes another 15 minutes each vaccination if they don’t do it,’ Pharmacist, and owner, of Ocean Shores Pharmacy Brett Dyer told The Echo.
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
With ever increasing pressure on health services across the nation and locally, how are health staff coping – and are there enough ICU beds and ventilators to cope with the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases? The Northern NSW Local Health District say that to 8pm yesterday, January 17, there were confirmed 1,114 new PCR cases of COVID-19. The Greens have written to the Premier to ask him to immediately introduce ‘NurseKeeper’ to urgently introduce pandemic pay and bonuses for nurses and paramedics. At this morning's COVID-19 update press conference, Concord and Nepean Hospitals lung specialist Dr Lucy Morgan gave an update on COVID-19. Dr Morgan says she works as part of a team of people looking after patients with COVID. The Northern NSW Local Health District reports that to 8pm last night, January 13, there were 905 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the District – this figure does not include positive rapid antigen tests (RAT) for the reporting period. As New South Wales breaks another COVID record with 29 lives lost in a single day, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet spoke to the media this morning with an update on the pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has released a media statement about the meeting yesterday of the National Cabinet. With more than a third of callers to the National Coronavirus Helpline asking about isolation, healthdirect has launched a guide to help those who are COVID-19 positive know what they should do while isolating at home and when to seek medical help. There is now financial support of up to $750 per week for individuals who have lost work because they have had to isolate – or if you are caring for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine owing to COVID-19. It started, in classic Byron style, with a batch of bliss balls. The homemade treats were whipped up for the nurses at Byron Hospital by local, Sarah Armstrong, after she heard how challenging life had been for them during the Omicron outbreak.Hospitals under strain
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