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Byron Shire
August 29, 2026

COVID-19 update for the NNSWLHD – May 23

Latest News

How can we keep paying for incompetence

The only way forward is going backwards. That’s how I explain the current situation of Byron Shire Council. The...

Other News

Proposed rate rises Byron Shire Council

In yesterday’s mail on 18 August I received a letter/brochure from Byron Shire Council (BSC) dated 11 August titled...

Cameras rolling on Ballina crime fight

A $1 million CCTV network targeting crime hotspots and major roads in Ballina and Lennox Head is finally moving into the installation phase, following years of calls for greater surveillance across the shire.

New police recruits welcomed

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin today welcomed 22 new probationary constables deployed to regional police districts, including two in the Northern Rivers.

Robot armies

Nuclear war now seems a matter of not if, but when: the bulletin of atomic scientists now has us...

Tweed Shire Council update

Tweed Council's latest meeting included motions on solar panel recycling, free speech, financial sustainability and Clarrie Hall Dam.

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.

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.

In the previous 24 hours there were, 256 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the district, including 28 positive PCR tests and 228 positive rapid antigen tests (RAT)**.

Confirmed tests by LGA (PCR and RAT included):

  • Ballina 33
  • Byron 26
  • Clarence Valley 52
  • Kyogle 3
  • Lismore 52
  • Richmond Valley 33
  • Tweed 57

The NSW Health website has a range of COVID-19 information, including weekly COVID-19 surveillance reports which contain detailed analysis and trends.

You can also find more COVID-19 statistics on the NSW Government website.

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.

*Tenterfield is in a different Local Health District, but postcodes put cases in NNSWLHD.

** 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

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.



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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.