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EMERGENCY

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000) for an ambulance. Ambulances are the safest way to be assessed, treated and transported to the right hospital for the care you need.

Triple zero (000) is a free call from any phone, mobile or phone box.

For less severe but still urgent situations, go to an Emergency Department.

There are 12 public hospital Emergency Departments in Northern NSW Local Health District and they are all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Emergency departments are located at:

COVID-19 Update: 14 December 2021
Published: 14 Dec 2021

Twenty-six new cases of COVID-19 were reported for Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) in the 24 hours to 8pm 13 December.

Of the cases, 22 were in the Byron Local Government Area, one in the Ballina LGA, two in the Tweed LGA and one in the Kyogle LGA.

Fifteen of the 26 cases are linked to an existing case or cluster, while 11 remain under investigation.

To date, no cases in NNSWLHD have been identified as the Omicron variant of concern.

Five cases have now been linked with the Woody’s Night Club in Byron Bay, while a total of 49 cases have been linked with the Coorabell Hall event on 4 December.

Ten cases have now been linked with No Bones in Byron Bay.

We urge anyone in Northern NSW who develops symptoms such as a runny nose, a scratchy or sore throat, or is generally feeling unwell, to get tested and isolate immediately, even if you are fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 testing

Across the District, 9,381 COVID-19 tests were reported in the seven days to Friday 10 December. This is a significant increase when compared to the previous seven-day totals of around 6000-7000 tests.

In response to continued high testing demand in the Byron Shire, the QML Pathology Drive-through Clinic at the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road has extended its opening hours, now operating from 8am to 4pm, seven days a week.

There are more than 450 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find your nearest clinic on the NSW Government website or contact your GP.

Please get vaccinated

If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, we encourage you to attend one of the walk-in or booked vaccination clinics which are operating throughout Northern NSW.

Everyone aged 18 and older may also now receive a booster dose five months after receiving their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

We also strongly recommend that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose. Talk to your doctor for more advice.

You can find your closest vaccination clinic at the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.

 

Advice for international travellers

Rules for returning travellers regarding the Omicron B.1.1.529 variant of concern are now in place. In line with Commonwealth measures, all travellers arriving in NSW who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.

All fully vaccinated travellers who have been in any other overseas country during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must travel directly to their place of residence or accommodation and isolate for 72 hours. They will only be able to exit isolation at the end of the 72-hour period if they have received a negative result. These people must also complete a PCR test on day six after arrival.

Anyone who has already arrived in NSW who has been in any of the eight African countries within the previous 14 days must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, and call NSW Health on 1800 943 553.