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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: New Clinic and new positive cases
Published: 01 Apr 2020

As at 8pm Tuesday 31 March there were 4 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in residents of the Northern NSW Local Health District.

This brings the District’s total to 42. By likely source of infection:

Source
Total

Overseas acquired
36

Contact of a confirmed case or in a known cluster
2

Contact not identified
2

Under investigation
2

Total
42

 

Of the NNSWLHD cases, currently 4 COVID-19 patients are being cared for in hospitals, 1 of these is in ICU elsewhere in NSW.

The Public Health Unit is following up close contacts of cases who are located within NNSWLHD, who are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact with the confirmed case.

They will be contacted daily to check that they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus.

If you are considered a close contact of a confirmed case, a Health officer will contact you directly.

New COVID-19 Clinic at Byron Central Hospital

Northern NSW Local Health District is setting up a new COVID-19 clinic at Byron Central Hospital, to be operational by tomorrow.

The clinic will be open 10am-4pm, seven days a week.

Three other COVID-19 clinics are located at Tweed, Lismore and Grafton hospitals, open from 10am-6pm

The free clinic will welcome backpackers in the Byron Shire who have any COVID-19-like symptoms, even if those symptoms are mild.

NNSWLHD will be working with agencies including Byron Shire Council to advertise the clinic and the expanded target group eligible for testing in order to connect with the backpacking community.

This is in addition to the current testing criteria for people presenting to COVID-19 clinics, which is people with respiratory symptoms or fever who meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • a close contact of a confirmed case
  • international travel in the 14 days prior to illness onset
  • a cruise ship passenger or crew member who has travelled in the 14 days prior to illness onset
  • a healthcare worker, aged care or other residential care worker
  • in a geographically localised area with elevated risk of community transmission.

It is vital that these respiratory clinics are not overwhelmed with people who are not in the high risk groups, which could result in delays identifying those most vulnerable.

People do not need to phone ahead to attend the clinic. People without symptoms do not need to be tested.

The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, headache, runny nose, or shortness of breath. Anyone with symptoms should isolate themselves from others.

For advice and information about COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

 Residents of NSW can also call new the 24-hour COVID-19 hotline on 13 77 88 for advice and support on non-health related enquiries.

 For health related advice, please continue to liaise with your GP, or phone HealthDirect on 1800 022 222.