Lismore, East Lismore, Coraki, Halfway Creek sites added to venues of concern

A Centrelink office, takeaway, bakery and service station have been added to Covid exposure sites after an infectious person was found to have travelled to the Northern Rivers.

Health officials say a new Covid-19 positive case was infectious in the Lismore area from September 7-12.

Acting Chief Executive Northern NSW Local Health District Lynne Weir said the person was no longer in Northern NSW.

It comes after a positive case was detected in the Lismore region on Wednesday, closing down Goonellabah Public School.

As a result, the NSW Government ordered the area into a seven-day lockdown from 6pm Thursday.

A number of new venues of concern have been identified as a result of the new Covid case.

These are:

• Lismore: Services Australia (Centrelink) – 47 Conway Street – Friday September 10 8.45am to 10.45am
• East Lismore: Lucky’s Seafood – Wyrallah Road Shopping Centre – Saturday September 11 1.45pm to 2.15pm
• Coraki: Coraki Bakery 77 Richmond Terrace Saturday September 11 8.30am to 9.15am
• Halfway Creek: Halfway Creek Service Centre – 4974 Pacific Highway Sunday September 12 4.00pm to 5.00pm

Halfway Creek Service Centre has been named as a venue of concern on Sunday September 12. Picture: Google Street View

Ms Weir said anyone who attended the venues at the times listed was a casual contact and must get tested and isolate until they received a negative result.

“Please get tested even if you have had a test in recent days,” she said.

“NSW Health sends a text message to people who have checked in at contact venues with further information but urges anyone who has attended these venues at the times listed to get tested and isolate.

“If you are directed to get tested for COVID-19 or self-isolate at any time, you must follow the rules given to you by Health staff, whether or not the venue or exposure setting is listed on the NSW Health website.”

Acting chief executive of the health district Lynne Weir. Picture: Tessa Flemming

All residents of the Lismore local government area and anyone who visited Lismore since September 7 are subject to stay at home requirements.

Lists of venues of concerns and relevant health advice are being updated at this page, and people are urged to check it regularly as they are updated, new cases emerge and investigations continue.

Anyone with even the mildest of cold-like symptoms is urged to immediately come forward for testing and isolate until a negative result is received.

Additional testing clinic open

A new drive-through testing clinic is being established at Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre, 50 Oliver Ave, Goonellabah.

The clinic will be open from 8am to 4pm on Friday 17, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September.

The Lismore Base Hospital COVID-19 testing clinic.

Other clinics located in Lismore are:

• Lismore Base Hospital – Uralba Street, Lismore, open seven days. Appointments not required
• Lismore Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology – 62 Wyrallah Road, Shop 12, Wyrallah Road Shopping Centre, Lismore. Open Monday – Saturday, appointments not required
• Lismore 4Cyte Pathology Drive-through Clinic – 47-49 Dawson Street, Lismore. Open Monday to Friday, appointments not required
• Southern Cross University Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology Drive-through Clinic Military Road, Southern Cross University, East Lismore. Open Tuesday to Friday, appointments not required.

For those outside of the area, 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.

Hospital visitor restrictions

Ms Weir said to protect our patient and staff community, hospitals right across Northern NSW Local Health District were continuing to restrict visitors from entering their facilities.

“Women can continue to nominate one support person during their labour, birth and post-delivery,” she said.

“We appreciate that this does inconvenience our patients and their loved ones, and we thank you for your understanding.”

For exceptional circumstances, such as for palliative care, people are asked discuss their needs with management at the facility.