Tweed resident dies of Covid-19, Northern NSW records 1099 new cases

The Tweed Shire has recorded a spike in new cases reported as rapid antigen test results begin to flow into local infection data.

Another person has died of Covid-19 in Northern NSW as the region records a large number of new cases.

The Northern NSW Local Health District recorded 1114 new Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Monday and 1099 new cases in the following 24 hours.

One person in their 50s has died with a Covid infection in the Tweed Shire.

The Tweed Shire recorded the highest number of new Covid cases, with 344 new infections recorded in the 24 hours until 8pm Tuesday.

There were 66 cases in the Ballina Shire, 91 in the Byron Shire, 64 in the Clarence Valley, 37 in Lismore, 52 in the Richmond Valley and nine in Kyogle in the same period.

The Tweed topped the figures in the previous day – to 8pm Monday – as well.

In that period, the Tweed Shire had 291 infections recorded while there were 122 new cases in the Byron Shire, 62 in the Ballina Shire, 86 in the Clarence Valley, 62 in the Lismore area, 42 in the Richmond Valley, eight in the Kyogle Shire and one in the part of the Tenterfield Shire which sits within the health district.

The health district is now including rapid antigen test data in those figures for the first time.

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

In its statement, the health district said those rapid antigen test results could be from within the previous seven days.

Some people in the same period may have recorded positive rapid antigen tests as well as positive PCR tests, the health district said.

Northern NSW has 62 Covid patients in hospital, six of whom are in intensive care.

The region’s localised figures for the following day have not yet been released.

Northern NSW Local Health District acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the region was experiencing challenges on staffing and resources, due to increased activity resulting from the pandemic and the additional pressure of some staff being furloughed because they need to isolate.

Ms Weir said Covid treatment capacity was being boosted.

“Northern NSW Local Health District has sufficient intensive care beds across our three major hospitals in Grafton, Lismore and Tweed, with plans in place to surge staffing and intensive care unit capacity, if and when required,” Ms Weir said.

Ms Weir said while Lismore Base Hospital was the primary Covid-19 hospital for the district, “all hospitals in the district have the necessary personal protective equipment and skilled staff to admit Covid-19 cases if required”.

“To create supplementary Covid-19 capacity and ensure we have additional staff available, some non-urgent services, including non-urgent elective surgery, dental appointments and outpatients’ services have either been postponed or moved to virtual appointments.”

Ms Weir said three Covid wards had now been established at Lismore Base Hospital.

The Tweed Hospital meanwhile opened a 16-bed incidental Covid ward “to care for patients with Covid-19 who present with an illness or injury not related to the virus” on Monday, she said.

The region’s broader health capacity has been broadened with Lismore Base Hospital transferring some non-Covid patients to the nearby St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

Lismore Base Hospital now has three Covid-19 wards in place while some non-Covid patients have been transferred to the nearby St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

“The networked nature of hospitals in NNSWLHD and across NSW means that in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak in a particular facility, staff who are currently working in non-frontline roles, as well as staff from other facilities, may be identified to assist if required,” Ms Weir said.

NSW has meanwhile recorded 32,297 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Tuesday.

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said 32 people had died across the state, including 12 women and 20 men.

The fatalities were aged between their 40s and 90s.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced state vaccination hubs – which include sites in Lismore, Tweed Heads, Grafton and Coffs Harbour – would allow booster shots for people three months after their second dose from Friday.

Dominic Perrottet speaks at a press conference on Wednesday.

This reflects a one-month reduction in the time before people are eligible for a booster.

Mr Perrottet said this would make 3.5 million NSW residents eligible for their third dose sooner.

He said GPs and pharmacies are expected to offer booster from three months as of January 31.

“We have the capacity available,” he said.

“We’ve seen clearly, through the numbers in ICU, that vaccination is key in reducing symptoms and keeping people safe.”