Twenty-eight new cases of COVID-19 were reported for Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Of the cases, 15 were in the Byron Local Government Area, five in the Ballina LGA, six in the Tweed LGA and two in the Lismore LGA.
Seventeen of the 28 cases are linked to an existing case or cluster, while 11 remain under investigation.
To date, no cases in NNSWLHD have been identified as the Omicron variant of concern.
Five cases have now been linked with the Woody’s Night Club in Byron Bay, while a total of 46 cases have been linked with the Coorabell Hall event on 4 December.
Nine cases have now been linked with No Bones in Byron Bay, connected with a function held there on 7 December.
Two COVID-positive patients are being cared for in hospital in Northern NSW, with around 120 cases being cared for in the community by our Virtual COVID Care team.
We urge anyone in Northern NSW who develops symptoms such as a runny nose, a scratchy or sore throat, or is generally feeling unwell, to get tested and isolate immediately, even if you are fully vaccinated.
The response to testing has again been outstanding, especially from the community in the Byron shire. On Sunday 12 December, around 800 tests were conducted across Byron Bay and Mullumbimby.
There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find your nearest clinic on the NSW Government website or contact your GP.
If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, we encourage you to attend one of the walk-in or booked vaccination clinics which are operating throughout Northern NSW.
Vaccination both decreases the likelihood of infection, and should you become infected, decreases the possibility of severe illness. It is our best defence against COVID-19.
Everyone aged 18 and older may now receive a booster dose at least five months after receiving their second dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines registered for use in Australia.
NSW Health recommends receiving a booster as soon as you are eligible, to best protect yourself, your loved ones and the community from 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. Talk to your doctor for more advice.
You can find your closest vaccination clinic at the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.
Hospital visitor restrictions tightened
Hospitals across Northern NSW Local Health District have tightened their visitor restrictions in response to the increasing case numbers.
Patients may now have one visitor, once a day for one hour, between the hours of 1pm and 6pm.
We acknowledge that this can be difficult for family members and carers, as well as for our patients, but it’s an important measure to help protect our health facilities.
We thank our community for their ongoing support. We will continue to review our visitor arrangements in coming weeks, to minimise the disruption to our patients and their loved ones.
Advice for COVID-positive cases
If you have tested positive to COVID-19 virus, you must isolate from others. You will be registered as a patient of the Northern NSW COVID Virtual Care Service for monitoring of your health while you are COVID-19 positive and self-isolating.
Staff from the Virtual COVID Care Service will be in touch with you within 24 hours of your diagnosis to register you with the service.
You should also expect a phone call from the Public Health Unit to discuss the possible source of your infection and work through contact tracing. This service is separate from the Virtual COVID Care Service.
Advice for international travellers
Rules for returning travellers regarding the Omicron B.1.1.529 variant of concern are now in place. In line with Commonwealth measures, all travellers arriving in NSW who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.
All fully vaccinated travellers who have been in any other overseas country during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours. They will only be able to exit isolation at the end of the 72-hour period if they have received a negative result. These people must also complete a PCR test on day six after arrival.
Anyone who has already arrived in NSW who has been in any of the eight African countries within the previous 14 days must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, and call NSW Health on 1800 943 553.