Two new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in residents of the Northern NSW Local Health District.
One case has been confirmed in the Kyogle area, while a second case has been confirmed in the Byron Bay area.
Both cases will be included in NSW Health’s official reporting tomorrow.
Initial investigations indicate that both people had been infectious in the community, with contact tracing and investigations currently under way.
We will provide more information as soon as it is available, including any exposure venues of public concern.
Put your mind at ease, get a test
We are urging people right across our District to come forward for testing at the first sign of any COVID-19 symptoms.
We know that COVID-19 is a serious illness, and getting tested quickly will give you the earliest opportunity to come into the care of our health teams who can support you.
We can see that COVID-19 travels easily, and can take communities by surprise.
Regardless of whether there are any exposure sites near you, or sewage detections, if you feel unwell, please come and get tested as quickly as you can, and then isolate while you wait for your results.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include a runny nose, scratchy or sore throat, cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, tiredness, loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhoea or muscle aches.
High testing rates is one indicator which NSW Health reviews when determining the level of risk in the community, alongside confirmed cases, sewage detections and vaccination rates. All these factors contribute to decisions around how vulnerable communities are, and what measures need to be put in place to reduce risk of transmission, such as stay at home orders or other restriction levels.
COVID-19 testing clinics
A drive through clinic is being established in Kyogle:
- Kyogle Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology Drive Through clinic – Kyogle Visitor Information Centre, Cnr Summerland Way and Anzac Drive. Open from 9am – 3pm, no appointments required.
This clinic replaces the testing clinic at McKid Medical Centre for the time being.
Other testing clinics in the Casino region are:
- Casino Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 166 Canterbury Street, Shops 3-4, RSM Centre, Casino. Open 7am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Appointments not required.
- Casino Respiratory Clinic, 107 Barker Street, Casino. Open 9am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Appointments required.
- Casino 4Cyte Pathology Drive Through clinic, Queen Elizabeth Park, Casino. Open 7am – 3pm Monday to Friday, appointments not required.
Testing clinics in the Byron Bay region are:
- QML Drive through testing clinic - Cavanbah Sports Ground, Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay, open from 10am-4pm. Appointments not required.
- Byron Central Hospital, Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay. Open from 9am – 5.30pm, seven days. Appointments not required.
There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.