The Northern NSW Local Health District says there were 686 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Northern NSW Local Health District to 8pm last night, January 5.
There are no estimates of unreported new cases and testing stations continue to be inundated with queues of people lining up.
The National Cabinet has agreed to remove the requirement for a PCR test to confirm a positive rapid antigen test result, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Mr Morrison said rapid antigen tests would start being used at COVID-19 testing sites to speed up results after the country experienced massive testing backlogs over the past few weeks.
‘This will take the pressure off the pathology labs which are out there, which will speed up the test results for PCR tests that are needed for those who are essential to get PCRs,’ he said.
There are 25 COVID-19 positive patients in hospitals in Northern NSW, with four of these in ICU.
The new cases are located in the following LGAs:
- Byron Shire 236
- Tweed Heads 224
- Ballina 92
- Lismore 81
- Richmond Valley 21
- Clarence Valley 20
- Kyogle 9
- Tenterfield 3
*(Tenterfield is in a different Local Health District, but postcodes put cases in NNSWLHD)
Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Life shows life expectancy in Australia has decreased slightly for the second year in a row. An international team of researchers has found more evidence that COVID-19 came from animals in a Wuhan food market. 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. 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.
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