Byron Bay and surrounding LGAs ordered into lockdown

Another area of NSW, eight hours from Sydney, has been ordered into a snap lockdown this evening after a positive case visited the region.

Four local government areas in the NSW North Coast have been ordered into a snap lockdown from 6pm on Monday.

The Byron Bay, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina shires will be subject to stay-at-home orders for at least seven days, after a Sydney man travelled to the region and subsequently tested positive for Covid-19.

The lockdown is due to end at 12.01am on Tuesday, August 17.

Everyone who lives in the LGAs or anyone who has been there since July 31 will be subject to the same rules as those living in Greater Sydney and the other locked down areas in regional NSW.

“We understand this is a difficult time for the community and appreciate their ongoing patience and co-operation,” NSW Health said in a statement on Monday evening.

“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.”

The picturesque region was put on high alert earlier on Monday after the Sydney man was hospitalised with the virus.

The man, who NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed was among Monday’s 283 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, registered a positive test in the coastal region of northern NSW as the virus continues to spread across the state.

Ballina Shire Council mayor David Wright said residents had been expecting the lockdown after Dr Chant’s morning announcement.

“Before the [lockdown] was announced, already at the local supermarket there was no bread or meat or anything left,” he said.

Cr Wright said locals had “always feared” someone visiting the region – a popular holiday destination known for its laid back lifestyle – while infectious with Covid-19.

“We'll just have to change what we’re doing and we’ve been very lucky so far … There are a lot of elderly people here and I just hope we can cope with that.”

Byron Bay has a positive case and residents are urged to get tested.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said authorities were watching the situation. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

Dr Chant said investigations were underway after the man, who is in his 50s, travelled from Sydney in late July.

“He is currently being reinterviewed and we are also arranging urgent testing of his two household contacts,” she said.

Dr Chant said the man had no recorded QR code check-ins during his infectious period.

But once it had been determined if he had visited any venues in the area, those would be made available to the public.

“This matter is under investigation (and the man) hasn’t received any punishment,” she said.

“The gentleman himself is actually in hospital and we are interviewing those (close) to him.”

Byron Bay Hospital. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Scott Powick

Byron Bay is at the subject of a Covid positive case investigation. Photo: Garry Searle

Concerningly, 64 of Monday’s new cases were infectious in the community in NSW while the isolation status of 71 remains under investigation.

NSW Health also revealed the death of a person with Covid-19 – an unvaccinated woman in her 90s from northern Sydney who died at Greenwich Hospital on Sunday.

Dr Chant also revealed an infected person travelled from Newcastle to Tamworth.

There are six new cases in the Hunter New England Local Health District, making a total of 26 in the district.

As a result, Tamworth has been placed into lockdown.

“To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for the Tamworth Local Government Area, from 5pm today until 12.01am Tuesday 16 August,” a NSW Health statement read.

“Following updated health advice from the chief health officer Dr Chant about the growing risk to the community, stay-at-home orders will apply to all people who live in these areas or have been there on or after 5 August 2021.

“The rules for this area will be the same as those already in place across Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock.

“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.”

A number of exposure sites have been identified in Tamworth.

There are currently 349 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 67 people in intensive care, 29 of whom require ventilation.