North Coast residents to go into snap lockdown after positive case confirmed

The NSW Government has announced a snap, week-long lockdown after a man tested positive to Covid-19 at Lismore Base Hospital. The region is on high alert as the man’s movements are investigated.

UPDATE 7pm: Southern Cross University will shut the doors of its Lismore campus from 6pm today.

The closure follows the NSW Government’s announcement of a snap, seven-day lockdown for the NSW North Coast local government areas of Byron, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina.

Anyone in the affected LGAs must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. The lockdown will continue until 12.01am on August 17, subject to COVID conditions.

Southern Cross University will provide updates and links on its coronavirus page www.scu.edu.au/coronavirus

Woolworths has introduced a limit of two toilet paper packs per customer in the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire LGAs, both in-store and online.

“We understand this is an uncertain time in Northern New South Wales, but we want to reassure customers our stores will remain open throughout the lockdown,” a Woolies spokesperson said.

“We have plenty of stock in our supply chain, and our team members will be hard at work making sure it flows into our store in large volumes for our customers.”

UPDATE 5.30pm: Parents have been asked to keep students home from school during the lockdown unless they need to be there.

NSW Health said: “Parents and carers in these LGAs must keep children – across primary and secondary school – at home unless they need to be at school. Schools (including outside of school hours care) are open for any child that needs it.”

All families are encouraged to discuss the changes with their schools if needed.

All families are encouraged to monitor the NSW Government’s latest COVID-19 news and updates for locations where there may have been exposure to COVID-19 and adhere to the advice as appropriate.

UPDATE 5.15pm: The Northern NSW Health District said residents on the Norhtern Rivers will be in lockdown conditions similar to those imposed in Greater Sydney..

The health district said the move was to protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak.

New restrictions will be introduced for the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina Shire Local Government Areas, effective from 6pm today until 12.01am Tuesday 17 August 17.

Following updated health advice from NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, stay-at-home orders will apply to all people who live in these areas or have been there on or after 31 July 31.

The rules for these areas will be the same as those already in place across Greater Sydney, as well as Tamworth, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock.

Everyone in these areas must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. They also cannot have visitors in their home from outside their household, including family and friends.

People still can have one visitor at one time to fulfil carers’ responsibilities or provide care or assistance, or for compassionate reasons, including where two people are in a relationship but do not live together.

People also cannot enter the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, and Ballina Shire Local Government Areas, without a reasonable excuse to do so.

We understand this is a difficult time for the community and appreciate their ongoing patience and cooperation.

We are asking people not to seek exceptions to the rules, but to ensure they comply with them so we do not see further cases of COVID-19 in the community.

UPDATE 4.50pm: Residents on the Northern Rivers will go into a snap, week-long lockdown from 6pm tonight.

The news comes on the back of a positive Covid case that presented to Lismore Base Hospital.

The NSW Government has issued the stay-at-home order for the North Coast, effective from Monday August 9 until at least 12.01am, Tuesday August 17.

It will impact residents in the Byron Shire, Ballina Shire, Lismore, and Richmond Valley Shire. It does not include residents in Tweed Shire or Kyogle District.

This includes everyone who lives in these areas or has been in these areas on, or after, July 31.

Everyone in these areas must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. This includes no visitors in your home from outside your household.

People cannot enter these shires without a reasonable excuse to do so.

Under this lockdown, you may only leave the house for ‘essential reasons’. This includes:

Reasonable excuses can be found here.

For more information, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au or call Service NSW on 13 77 88.

UPDATE 4.00pm: The Northern NSW Local Health District has issued a statement about the current positive Covid case in Lismore Base Hospital, but few new details have yet to be released.

The acting chief executive Lynne Weir confirmed a case of Covid-19 has been notified overnight in the Byron area, a man in his 50s.

She said NSW Health is investigating the source of his infection and the venues he may have visited in the area.

“The patient is currently being treated in Lismore Base Hospital and is in a stable condition,”. Ms Weir said.

“Initial investigations indicate this person has been infectious while in the community.

“To date there have been no additional confirmed cases of Covid-19 among residents of Northern NSW Local Health District.

“As a precaution, everybody who is in the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Tweed,

Lismore, Kyogle and Ballina local government areas is being asked to stay on high

alert for Covid-19 symptoms, and self-isolate and have a Covid-19 test at the first

sign of any symptoms, however mild,”. Ms Weir said.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include a runny nose, scratchy or sore throat, cough, fever,

shortness of breath, headache, tiredness, loss of taste or smell, nausea, diarrhoea or

muscle aches.

Ms Weir said there are more than 25 testing clinics across Northern NSW, so please don’t delay in coming forward for a test.

“A drive through pop up clinic is also now open at Cavanbah Sports Centre, 249

Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay.

All the local testing clinics and their opening hours are listed on the NSW government

website at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or, you can also contact your GP.

“NSW Health does not comment on individual cases unless there is a public health reason to disclose venue information or other information that is central to the public health response,” Ms Weir said.

“Further details will be provided as they become available.

“When a confirmed case is identified, NSW Health takes proactive steps to contact all close contacts of the case, to give advice on isolation, symptoms to be aware of and their level of risk.”

UPDATE 2.30pm: Local authorities are calling for a ‘short and sharp’ lockdown on the Northern Rivers, to stop the potential spread of Covid-19 after a man tested positive at a Lismore hospital.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said there was no point in delaying the inevitable.

“It makes sense, do it quick, do it fast and then we get on top of it.”

UPDATE 1.10pm: Byron Shire residents who may not be feeling well are being asked to get tested after a positive Covid-19 case has been confirmed.

The person is currently in the Lismore Base Hospital and NSW Health is investigating their movements after reportedly being in the Byron Shire from July 31.

With restrictions changing daily in different areas, there is now an online tool to check what is possible and what is not in different areas.

UPDATE 1.00pm: A Covid testing clinic will be set up today in response to a man testing positive in the community.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot said a drive-through testing site will open at the Cavanbah Centre from 1pm.

She urged people to get tested if they have symptoms.

The car park at Lismore Base Hospital was full on Monday, August 9.

UPDATE 12.35pm: NSW Health has urged Northern Rivers residents to get tested if they display Covid symptoms after a man in his 50s who was staying at Byron Bay tested positive to Covid-19.

NSW Health tweeted; “As a precaution everybody who is in the following local government areas should immediately isolate and have a Covid-19 test if they have even the mildest of symptoms: Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Tweed, Lismore, Kyogle, and Ballina”.

UPDATE 11.35am: NSW Police said contact tracing is currently being undertaken by NSW Health to determine the movements of a man who has tested positive to Covid.

A police spokeswoman said once information is collated it is then shared with NSW Police, who will investigate any alleged breaches of the Public Health Order.

In response to the positive Covid case in Lismore, St Vincents Hospital will limit visitor numbers.

Only one visitor per patient is allowed between 1pm and 6pm, effective immediately.

Full visitor restrictions are in place for St Joseph’s Nursing Home.

UPDATE 11.18am: Dr Kerry Chant has confirmed the patient who tested positive was infectious in the community for several days before isolating.

Anyone with symptoms is urged to get tested immediately.

UPDATE 11.10am: The NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said a man in his 50s from Byron Bay has tested positive to Covid-19.

She said the man had been in Sydney in July, but his movements were not yet known.

She said the man’s two housemates were being tested, but they were not yet aware of any other venues the man may have visited.

Dr Chant said investigations were underway to determine where the man may have visited, but QR code information was not yet available.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned Northern Rivers residents to stay alert after the “mobile” case was out in the community.

“The Northern Rivers community is on high alert at this stage, there won’t be any further action taken but I understand … there is a case there where someone who’s been mobile,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Health experts are watching that community very closely.”

UPDATE 11.05am: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed there is a positive Covid case on the Northern Rivers and has urged the community to be on high alert.

She confirmed the case had been in Byron Bay and NSW Health was working to determine where that person had travelled while infectious.

The Premier said no further action would be taken at this time, but urged people to get tested if they had symptoms.

UPDATE 10.58am: QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was asked about the potential Covid case in Lismore, and said her team was waiting to hear more from the NSW authorities.

She said, “We’re starting to hear some issues around that”, and was waiting to hear from her NSW counterparts.

The QLD Premier hinted a tighter crackdown on border control as the Covid outbreak moved north.

“The further the virus travels north is alarming for us. So we’ll be watching that incredibly carefully,” she said in today’s press conference.

“But if we have to go harder, we will,” she warned, saying the border control could stop everyone.

Original story: There are unconfirmed reports a patient has tested positive to COVID-19 at a Lismore hospital.

The ABC was reporting the patient was admitted to Lismore Base Hospital and contact tracing has begun.

It was believed the person from the Gold Coast spent five days in Byron Bay, and visited locations in Ballina, Lismore, and Casino.

More to come at 11am.