The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reports that in the 24 hour period to 8pm last night, January 6, there were 683 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the District.
There are 35 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with four of these in ICU.
The case numbers reflect those people whose test results were confirmed to 8pm yesterday. There is currently no way to estimate how many people in the district are currently ill or infectious as anecdotally, many who are unwell are isolating at home and not accessing health or testing services.
NNSWLHD said they all had three confirmed deaths yesterday. A man in his 50s from the Byron Shire area, a woman in her 70s from the Byron Shire area – both were not vaccinated. A woman in her 90s from the Grafton area also died yesterday, she had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The new cases are located in the following LGAs:
- Tweed 253
- Byron 139
- Ballina 115
- Lismore 84
- Clarence Valley 54
- Richmond Valley 29
- Kyogle 7
- Tenterfield 2 *(Tenterfield is in a different Local Health District, but postcodes put cases in NNSWLHD)
Byron has had 2,147 locally acquired cases in the last four weeks, and Tweed has had 1,397, Lismore 540 and Ballina 824.
NSW statistics
NSW Health has reported the deaths of eleven people with COVID-19, six men and five women aged in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s – these include the Northern Rivers numbers.
Three people were from southeastern Sydney, one person was from western Sydney, one person was from south-western Sydney, one person was from northern Sydney, one person was from Port Stephens and one person was from the Lake Macquarie area.
NSW Health says there are currently 1,738 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 134 people in intensive care, 33 of whom require ventilation.
NSW recorded 38,625 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Two hundred and eight COVID-19 cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 380,361.
| Cases | Count |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases (including interstate residents in NSW health care facilities) | 380,361 |
| Deaths (in NSW from confirmed cases) | 702 |
| Total tests carried out | 25,891,932 |
| Total vaccinations administered in NSW | 13,885,958 |
NSW Health says that people are at risk of developing COVID-19 for 14 days after they were last in contact with a COVID-positive person, so it is important to take precautions during this time.
While most people will become positive within the first week after exposure, around a quarter of people exposed to COVID-19 will develop their infection in the following seven days.
If you have had a high-risk interaction with someone who has COVID-19, it is important to exercise caution and avoid high-risk settings and large indoor gatherings for 14 days after you last had contact with them.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms it is still important that you have a test and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result. You can get tested at any of our hospital testing clinics seven days a week. Other clinics may have reduced hours, so please check before attending.
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.
COVID-19 reduces Australian life expectancy
Wuhan market increasingly likely origin point for COVID-19
Editorial – There’s a bat in my lab!
Fresh air federal funds for Northern Rivers schools in need
COVID-19 pandemic has cut life expectancy globally
COVID-19 update for New South Wales
Five graphs you need to see before the Global Carbon Budget...
Public transport mask mandate to end
NSW Police: be COVID-vigilant at Splendour in the Grass
COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
