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August 29, 2026

Northern Rivers closing in on 1,000 daily COVID-19 cases

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COVID-19 cases in the Northern NSW Local Health District – December 15 to January 11.

There were 962 COVID positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Northern NSW Health District (NNSWHD) in the 24 hours up to 8pm 11 January with 55 people in hospital and six people in ICU who are COVID-19 positive. 

Tweed local government area (LGA) is topping the list of cases with 304 new cases followed by Byron LGA with 219. Ballina has 165 cases and Clarence Valley LGA now has 113 while Lismore LGA has 81, Richmond Valley 62, Kyogle 15 and Tenterfield 3. Parts of the Tenterfield LGA are now being included in the NNSWHD count as it has postcodes that put cases in NNSWLHD.

Active cases

According to COVID Live Tweed LGA now has 2,698 active cases, Byron LGA has 1,891, Ballina LGA 1,026 cases, Clarence VAlley has 575 cases, Lismore 806, Richmond Valley 302, Kyogle 80, and Tenterfield 28 active cases. 

‘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,’ said a NNSWHD spokesperson. 

RATs register

‘Anyone who tests positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) will now be required to register their result with Service NSW. Registering your RAT result enables NSW Health to provide advice on self-isolation and managing COVID-19 symptoms at home and connect high risk people to clinical care services.’

Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are available for people aged 18 and over who had their second dose at least four months ago. 

‘We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect themselves, their loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19,’ said the spokesperson. 

‘Everyone who is eligible is encouraged to book into a NSW Health vaccination clinic or another provider without delay through the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder.’


Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19

COVID-19 reduces Australian life expectancy

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row.

Wuhan market increasingly likely origin point for COVID-19

An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market.

Editorial – There’s a bat in my lab! 

The lab-leak theory that Covid-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology – instead of a nearby wet market – was thrashed about in public recently, with the US Senate Homeland Security Committee holding a hearing into Covid-19. 

Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need

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 pandemic has cut life expectancy globally

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.

COVID-19 update for New South Wales

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.

Five graphs you need to see before the Global Carbon Budget...

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.

Public transport mask mandate to end

Masks will no longer be mandatory on public transport from tomorrow, Wednesday 21 September.

NSW Police: be COVID-vigilant at Splendour in the Grass

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.

COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23

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.



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Greens urged to back pathway to end native forest logging

Some of NSW’s most respected and long-standing forest campaigners and scientists have today urged the Greens not to support the Nationals' attempt to disallow the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method.

Ballina Council makes decision on Ross Lane

With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.

Mullumbimby puts new governance models first, and now wants to build it

Imagine Northern Rivers says Mullumbimby is the only community across the region to rank new models of governance and decision-making as the number one element of its preferred future, and last week locals gathered to work out how to make it real.

Appeal to locate man missing from Broadwater

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a local missing man.