The Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) reports that to 4pm yesterday, 26 April, there were 569 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the region, including 74 positive PCR tests and 495 positive rapid antigen tests (RAT)**.
Confirmed tests by LGA (PCR and RAT included):
- Ballina 105
- Byron 88
- ClarenceValley 50
- Kyogle 10
- Lismore 101
- Richmond Valley 47
- Tweed 168
There are 40 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with two of these in ICU.
NNSWLHD urges that if you have even mild symptoms or have had known contact with a COVID-19 case, please get tested as soon as you can. Please isolate while awaiting a negative result.
If you test positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), please register your result with Service NSW.
To protect yourself and others:
- don’t go out if you’re unwell
- take your mask with you so you can wear it if you’re somewhere you can’t socially distance, especially indoors, and
- use hand sanitiser or wash your hands regularly.
** Please note, RAT results may be from within the previous seven days, and there may be some cases included in these numbers where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period.
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.
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
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