Northern NSW Covid: Six new cases, Rivers Secondary College reopens

One new infected person is a household contact of an existing Clarence Valley case while five others in the Lismore area are under investigation.

Health authorities are continuing to urge people in Northern NSW to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and to get tested if they have any symptoms. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams

Six new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Northern NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday.

Northern NSW Local Health District acting chief executive Lynne Weir said one was in the Clarence Valley local government area and was a household contact of a previously confirmed case.

That person had already been in isolation, Ms Weir said.

“Five cases are in the Lismore local government area and are under investigation,” Ms Weir said.

“This brings the total number of cases in the district since 16 June to 121.”

No new venues of concern have been listed in the area.

A Covid-19 case recorded in the district in the 24 hours to 8pm Sunday has been cleared of the virus in subsequent testing.

Ms Weir has reiterated a plea for the community to get tested and vaccinated.

“While one new case of Covid-19 was reported in the daily total for Northern NSW Local Health District to 8pm 24 October, subsequent testing determined it was not a positive case,” Ms Weir said.

“This will be reflected in reconciled data (on Tuesday).”

Rivers Secondary College in Lismore reopened on Tuesday after being closed for cleaning.

A member of the school had tested positive for the virus.

The Rivers Secondary College in Lismore. Picture: Tessa Flemming

Meanwhile more than 95 per cent of people in the Ballina, Tweed and Coffs Harbour local government areas have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Ballina is continuing to lead the Northern Rivers on double-vaccination with a rate of 78.4 per cent as of Sunday.

“As vaccination rates rise, please be mindful that there may be vulnerable members of our community who cannot be vaccinated against Covid-19,” Ms Weir said.

“It’s important that everyone continues to follow Covid-safe practices when out and about.”

Mr Weir said this meant people should continue to wear a mask when they couldn’t be socially distant, wash their hands and/or sanitise often and continue to check in with QR codes.

“All new cases are investigated, and contact tracing is continuing to identify close contacts who are most at risk of exposure as quickly as possible,” she said.

“These individuals are contacted as a priority, and asked to get tested and self-isolate immediately to reduce any risk of transmission in the community.”

She said contact tracing processes were taking into account rising vaccination rates.

“As a result, the number of locations assessed as public venues of concern by the public health teams may continue to reduce as the pandemic response evolves,” she said.

“If and when there are any exposure sites identified as being of risk to the general public, these will be listed on the NSW Government website.”