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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 - sewage detections in Grafton and Wardell
Published: 26 Sep 2021

To 8pm 25 September there were no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Northern NSW Local Health District.

Fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been detected in samples taken from the North and South Grafton sewage treatment plants on 24 September. These sites serve a combined total of approximately 18,500 people.

Director for the North Coast Public Health Unit, Dr Paul Douglas said this is the second detection in four days at the Grafton treatment plants.

“We are particularly concerned about the Grafton detections given there are no known cases in the area,” Dr Douglas said.

“We strongly encourage anyone in the Grafton area to be vigilant for COVID-19 symptoms and to get tested and isolate as soon as symptoms develop.”

Further sewage surveillance has also detected fragments of the virus in samples taken from the Wardell sewage treatment plant on 24 September. This is the fourth detection in that area in the past 10 days.

“While we know there was one confirmed case who had been in the Ballina, Wardell and Cabbage Tree Island areas during 14 – 16 September, these ongoing detections could indicate that there are additional unconfirmed cases in these communities,” Dr Douglas said.

Anyone who has even mild symptoms of COVID-19 is strongly encouraged to come forward for testing as soon as their symptoms develop.

There are a range of testing clinics open in the Grafton and Ballina areas:

  • Grafton Base Hospital, 184 Arthur Street, Grafton. Open 9am- 5pm seven days, appointments not required.
  • Grafton South Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 94 Bent Street, Shop 9 Coles Complex, South Grafton. Open 7am – 2pm Monday to Friday, appointments not required.
  • Ballina 4Cyte Drive Through clinic, 39 River Street, Ballina. Open 7am – 2pm daily, appointments not required.
  • Ballina Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, 90 Tamar Street, Shop 4, Ballina. Open 7am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday, appointments not required.
  • Ballina Respiratory Clinic, 92 Tamar Street, Shop 12, Tamar Shopping Village, Ballina. Open Monday- Friday 8.30am – 4pm, appointments required.

There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. Find a clinic at COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.

We encourage our community to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they are able to. Find available bookings at the Commonwealth Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder, or you can also call Health Direct on 1800 57 11 55 for assistance to book.