NSW Health has advised that there is one new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in Northern NSW.
The case is linked to the Queensland COVID-19 cases that visited venues in the Byron Bay area from Friday 26 March to Sunday 28 March.
Urgent investigations and contact tracing are underway. New public health restrictions have been announced for the local government areas of Tweed Shire Council, Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Lismore City Council.
COVID-19 Testing
NSW Health has announced several venues of concern. Anyone who has been to the following venues must immediately get tested and self-isolate and remain in isolation until further advice is provided by NSW Health.
A complete list of venues of concern is available here.
People who have been in the Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore shires since Friday 28 March are advised to check the site regularly for the latest health and testing advice.
Everyone in NSW, especially those in Northern NSW, with even the mildest symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, is urged to get tested and self-isolate immediately.
NSW Health has established new COVID-19 testing clinics and increased the hours of existing clinics across Northern NSW.
NSW Health Testing Clinics
No booking or GP referral is required
- Byron Bay QML Pathology Drive-Through — Cavanbah Sports Ground, 249 Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay. Open from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.
- Byron Bay Walk-in Pop-Up Clinic — Byron Bay Surf Club car park, Bay Street, Byron Bay. Open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
- Byron Central Hospital Walk-in — 54 Ewingsdale Road, Ewingsdale. Open from 9am-6.30pm, 7 days a week.
- Lennox Head QML Pathology Drive-Through Clinic — Cultural Centre Car Park, 1 Mackney Lane, Lennox Head. Open from 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday.
- Tweed Heads QML Pathology Drive-Through Clinic – Cnr Wharf and Florence Street, Tweed Heads, 8am – 8pm, Monday to Sunday.
- Lismore QML Pathology Drive-Through Clinic – 354 Keen Street, Lismore, 8am – 7pm, 7 days a week.
- Ballina QML Pathology Drive-Through Clinic, Ballina Surf Club, Lighthouse Parade, East Ballina, 8am – 7pm, 7 days a week.
GP Respiratory Clinics
No GP referral is required but booking is essential
- Ballina GP Respiratory Clinic – 92 Tamar Street, Ballina. Open from 8.30am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Book online.
- Murwillumbah GP Respiratory Clinic – 14 King St Murwillumbah. Open from 9am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday including Easter public holidays. Book online.
Opening hours and clinic details are subject to change. To find your nearest clinic and stay up to date with opening hours, visit: NSW Health COVID-19 clinics
New Public Health Restrictions
As of 5pm on Wednesday 31 March, the following rules apply to the local government areas of Tweed Shire Council, Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Lismore City Council:
- Mask wearing will be compulsory on public transport, in retail stores, and in all public indoor settings.
- The one person per 4 square metre rule will apply at all public indoor settings including hospitality venues
- The number of household visitors will be capped at 30 including holiday rental properties.
These restrictions will remain in place until 11:59pm on Monday 5 April, when the community will be updated.
Maintain Physical Distancing and Hygiene
Healthy North Coast has distributed 5,000 complimentary reusable cloth masks around the Ballina and Byron Shires, including at Ballina Byron Airport for community use.
Please remember that a mask is not a substitute for physical distancing.
Masks are a ‘fourth line of defence’ after:
- Getting tested if unwell, then staying home.
- Maintaining 1.5-metre physical distancing.
- Practising good hand hygiene.
Travel and Border Restrictions
NSW Health strongly advises people in the Ballina, Byron, Tweed and Lismore shires not to travel outside these four LGAs until further advice.
People from elsewhere in NSW are strongly requested not to enter these impacted areas.
Strong advice remains in place for everyone in NSW to avoid non-essential travel to the Greater Brisbane area. Check Queensland’s COVID-19 alerts before you travel.
From 5pm Monday 29 March to 5pm Thursday 1 April 2021, Greater Brisbane (Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay, and Redlands) is in lockdown for three days. The area has also been declared a hotspot from 5pm on 29 March.
If you are travelling to any of the five identified local government areas from other states and territories, you will need to follow the same lockdown restrictions. You may also be required to quarantine upon your return home, depending on state or territory health directives.
Travellers entering NSW from Queensland should stay up to date with the latest travel advice from the NSW Government.
If You’ve Been in Greater Brisbane Since 20 March
People who have been in Greater Brisbane since 20 March who are now in NSW must comply with the same stay at home restrictions that apply to Greater Brisbane, regardless of their current location.
This means anyone who has been to Greater Brisbane since 20 March is required to stay at home, except for essential reasons that include shopping for food and supplies, exercise, work and medical care, under the Public Health Order. People who have only transited through Brisbane Airport are excluded from these restrictions.
Entry declaration forms are now required for people entering NSW who have been in Greater Brisbane in the previous 14 days Declaration forms are available on the Service NSW website.