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Byron Shire
June 25, 2026

One death and 23 in hospital in Northern Rivers

Latest News

Kyogle bridge build completed in under three months

Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland says a new bridge on Gradys Creek Road, off Summerland Way and north of Kyogle, has opened to traffic. She says it took Council less than three months to build Methvens Bridge.

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What are we going to *DO* about it?

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Artist Gerwyn Davies exhibits at Tweed Gallery

From 3 July, a major new body of work by Gadigal/Sydney-based artist Gerwyn Davies will be exhibited at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.

Byron’s Winter Whales raise $43,000

The Byron Bay Winter Whales (BBWW) took to the ocean for the 39th time this year on the first Sunday of May and raised $43,000 for local organisations and charities.

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Wyuna 1 freed from Belongil Beach

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The previous 24 hours to 4pm 8 February has seen another death in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD). 

There have been 481 positive COVID-19 confirmed in the same period (combining RAT and PCR tests) and there are now 23 people in hospital and four in ICU in the region.

‘Sadly, today Northern NSW is reporting the death of one person aged in their 90s from COVID-19. They were from the Tweed area,’ said the press statement.

‘We express our sincere condolences to their loved ones.’

Confirmed cases

NNSWLHD have confirmed that the confirmed tests by LGA (local government area), PCR and RAT included, are:

  • Ballina 70
  • Byron 48
  • Clarence Valley 91
  • Kyogle 15
  • Lismore 74
  • Richmond Valley 43
  • Tenterfield 1 (Tenterfield is in a different Local Health District, but postcodes put cases in NNSWLHD).
  • Tweed 139

Active cases by LGA

According to the COVID-Live website Ballina LGA has currently has 360 active cases while Byrion has 215, Clarence VAlley304, Kyogle 28, Lismore 190, Richmond VAlley 170, Tenerfield 26, ans Tweed LGA 1,183 active cases of COVID-19. 

Get tested

The 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.

‘Anyone who tests positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is 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.,’ they said.

‘Everyone who is eligible for a booster is encouraged to book without delay through the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder.

‘Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are now available for people aged 16 and over who had their second dose at least three 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.

‘We also strongly recommend that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose.’


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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57 Station St, Mullumbimby amended DA on public exhibition

The development application (DA 10.2025.212.1) for the carpark at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby is now back on exhibition for eight weeks from 22 June.

A Byron kickback with the Gimelli family

The Gimelli family ran a small Italian restaurant on Jonson Street from about 1995 into the early 2000s. It was a classy joint, ahead of Byron’s culinary curve, serving dishes from every corner of Italy.

12 winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with 12 students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.

H5 bird flu surveillance strengthened

The NSW government say it has increased surveillance and boosted biosecurity capacity for H5 bird flu by 'dedicating additional resources to identifying potential cases coupled with an awareness campaign focused on input from the community and the needs of industry'.