NSW is taking the ultra cautious route to prevent the spread of community transmission into the regions. Late yesterday afternoon, NSW Health ordered four local government areas in the NSW North Coast – Byron Bay, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina shires – into an immediate snap lockdown from 6pm AEST (Monday 9 August).
The lockdown is due to end at 12.01am on Tuesday, 17 August. It comes after a Sydney man travelled to the region at the end of July and then tested positive for COVID-19, and is believed to have been active in the community prior to testing positive.
Dr Kerry Chant said that investigations are underway to determine if the man, who had no recorded QR code check-ins and is now in Lismore hospital, visited any venues in the area, and those exposure sites will urgently be made available to the public.
Earlier yesterday, Tamworth was placed into lockdown after a Covid-positive person visited the region from Newcastle, before Newcastle was placed into lockdown. The Tamworth local government area is under stay at home orders from 5pm, Monday 9 August 2021 until 12:01am, 16 August 2021.
