More regional NSW towns thrown back into Covid-19 lockdown

Several local areas in regional NSW have been thrown back into lockdown after health officials identified clusters of cases.

Taree, Forster and Tuncurry on NSW’s Mid North coast will go back into lockdown at midnight on Monday due to a rise of Covid-19 cases in the region.

Postcodes 2430 and 2428, both in the Mid-Coast local government area, will be under stay-at-home orders until October 11, the day lockdowns are set to be lifted across NSW.

These restrictions also apply to anyone who has been in these areas since 27 September.

The Muswellbrook LGA, which went into lockdown on September 28, has had its lockdown extended until October 11.

Earlier, NSW Health announced that Gunnedah in north east NSW would also be placed back into lockdown.

Stay-at-home orders will be introduced for the Gunnedah local government area from midnight on Monday October 11.

The reintroduced stay-at-home orders also apply to anyone who has been in the Gunnedah LGA since 27 September.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson said five new infections were confirmed in the LGA overnight on Monday, taking the total to six cases, all of which are believed to be linked to one agricultural business.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Flavio Brancaleone

NSW Health announced the impending lockdown earlier on Monday evening.

Everyone in this any of the locked down regions must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if they can’t work or study at home.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson says the six Gunnedah cases are believed to be linked to one business. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Health officials have also said that the stay-at-home orders for the Cowra and Port Macquarie LGAs will be lifted as scheduled on Tuesday from 12.01am and 11.59pm, respectively.

“NSW Health will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation with Covid-19 and will not hesitate to update its advice to protect the health and wellbeing of the people of NSW,” the department said in a statement.

Originally published as More regional NSW towns thrown back into Covid-19 lockdown