Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is setting up a new COVID-19 clinic at Byron Central Hospital. The clinic will be operational from Thursday 2 April, and will beĀ open from 10 am to 4 pm, seven days a week.
The free clinic will welcome backpackers in the Byron Shire who have any COVID-19-like symptoms, even if those symptoms are mild.
NNSWLHD will be working with agencies including Byron Shire Council to advertise the clinic and the expanded target group eligible for testing in order to connect with the backpacking community.
This is in addition to the current testing criteria for people presenting to COVID-19 clinics, which is people with respiratory symptoms or fever who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Close contact with a confirmed case.
- International travel in the 14 days prior to illness onset.
- A cruise ship passenger or crew member who has travelled in the 14 days prior to illness onset.
- A health care worker, aged care or other residential care worker.
- In a geographically localised area with elevated risk of community transmission.
It is vital that these respiratory clinics are not overwhelmed with people who are not in the high risk groups, which could result in delays identifying those most vulnerable.
People do not need to phone ahead to attend the clinic.
People without symptoms do not need to be tested. The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, headache, runny nose, or shortness of breath. Anyone with symptoms should isolate themselves from others.
