Grafton drive-through Covid testing opens as region records new cases

A drive-through Covid testing clinic is set to open as more cases are confirmed for the Clarence. It comes after staff and students at a Grafton school were sent home to isolate for 14 days.

The Department of Health has confirmed nine new cases of Covid-19 detected in the Clarence Valley up to 8pm on Tuesday.

There were a total of 12 across the entire Northern NSW Health District as the state announced 444 new cases and four deaths.

It brings the number of cases in the Clarence Valley to 23, with 19 of them still of an unknown origin.

Of the nine new cases, five are household contacts of previously reported cases or are linked to the existing cluster, while the source of four cases is under investigation.

The Northern NSW Local Health District will open a new drive-through testing clinic at Hawthorne Park in South Grafton from Thursday.

It will operate from 9am – 3pm.

This is in addition to existing testing clinics open in Grafton:

• Grafton Base Hospital, 184 Arthur Street, Grafton, open seven days. Open today, Wednesday 7am – 7pm.

• Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology Grafton South, Coles Complex, Shop 9, 4 Bent Street, South Grafton. Open today 7am – 4pm.

Close contacts changes

NSW Health has revised the isolation period for close contacts of a Covid-19 case from 14 days to seven days for people who have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to their exposure to the virus.

Vaccinated close contacts are now required to isolate for seven days, if a test on the sixth day after exposure is negative.

According to NSW Health, for the next seven days, vaccinated close contacts must still work from home where practicable, not attend hospitality settings such as pubs, cafes and restaurants, or not attend high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care facilities, childcare centres and schools.

Fully vaccinated close contacts who were identified as a close contact before Monday 11 October may end their isolation either at the end of the previously advised period or at 11.59pm on Monday 18 October, whichever comes first. This is provided that they have had a negative result from a test on day six or later and have no Covid-19 symptoms.

Close contacts who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or received their second vaccination within 14 days of their exposure must continue to isolate for the full 14-day period, regardless of their test result. All close contacts must get tested again on day 12.

School students and staff isolate for 14 days

A South Grafton school that had previously closed after one of its students had tested positive has now advised staff and students to be tested and isolate for 14 days.

The Department of Education posted a statement online advising that the more than 700 staff and students across both campuses needed to follow the health advice.

South Grafton Public School staff and students have been ordered to get tested and isolate for 14 days after a Covid outbreak at the school.

“NSW Health have advised us today of additional cases of Covid-19 in our school community,” the notice reads.

“With this additional information, NSW Health have recommended that all students and staff be tested and self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution.”

Dear parents/guardiansI write to provide a further update to the communications I have provided to date in relation to...

Posted by South Grafton Public School on Tuesday, October 12, 2021

The statement says all staff and families will be contacted directly to confirm their self-isolation period and families will be provided with information about learning from home resources.

“Please get your child/children tested as soon as possible, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not,” the statement says.

“If your child/children test negative, they still need to remain in isolation until the 14-day isolation period finishes.

“We understand that in some families it may be difficult to isolate children from other family members.

“Anyone who is unable to isolate from your child will have to self-isolate for the same period as your child.

“NSW Health will discuss this with you further.”

Nearby South Grafton High School has also posted that any families linked with South Grafton Public School should follow the same advice.

Long daycare centre New School Of Arts has also posted a statement saying any of the children at their centre who are unable to isolate away from a child at the school must be tested and isolate as per the instructions.

Posted by The New School of Arts Neighbourhood House Inc. South Grafton on Tuesday, October 12, 2021

There are currently 14 cases of confirmed Covid-19 within the Clarence Valley due to the Delta outbreak.

Northern NSW Health officials added three new venues of concern in the Grafton area on Tuesday.

They are:

South Grafton: Royal Hotel 170 Ryan Street Friday 8 October 2021 5.45pm to 7.25pm

Grafton: Big W Grafton Shopping World Corner of Villiers Street and Fitzroy StreetSaturday 9 October 2021 10.50am to 11.25am

South Grafton: Bunnings Grafton 1251 Big River Way Saturday 9 October 2021 1.00pm to 1.25pm

The venues are listed as casual contacts, and anyone who has been at the venues below at the date and time listed must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Responding to questions about the Clarence outbreak, Deputy Premier Paul Toole said that lockdowns were less likely under the new plan, but remained a possibility.

“The Reopening NSW road map is informed by the national plan to transition Australia’s national Covid-19 response,” he said.

“All decisions about regional areas will be based on the health advice.”