Lismore booted from Qld border bubble after one new Covid case

The northern NSW town of Lismore has been booted from Queensland’s border bubble after a single new local Covid case was recorded in the community overnight.

The Northern Rivers city was one of two NSW local government areas heading for an initial seven-day lockdown from 6pm on Thursday after authorities reported new cases with possible links to Sydney and active in the community while infectious.

The Victorian border town of Albury will also have restrictions renewed after two cases were reported.

Lismore – which recorded one case overnight – was also on Thursday afternoon booted out of Queensland’s Covid bubble, with the city to be declared a restricted NSW border zone from 6pm.

Queensland’s chief health officer Jeannette Young said this meant anyone who had been in the Lismore local government area in the last 14 days could not enter Queensland.

“I understand this is tough for some, but it is necessary in ensuring we can continue to protect Queenslanders,” Dr Young said.

NSW recorded 1351 local cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday night and 12 deaths – the same number as the day before.

The news wasn’t all bad from Thursday morning’s press conference in Sydney, with 12 other regional NSW communities having their freedoms partially restored after a successful effort to contain the spread of the virus.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said restrictions would be lifted for the local government areas of Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and the Upper Hunter from 1pm after they hadn’t recorded any Covid-19 cases for the past 14 days.

They join other regions that had stay-at-home orders lifted last week.

“This is a good news day for regional and rural NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.

“You join other communities that have their stay-at-home orders lifted, reminding everybody that it is still a restricted environment. If you can avoid going to a local government area where they continue to be in lockdown, please do.”

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard offered his condolences to the residents of Lismore and Albury, who will be in lockdown for an initial seven days but perhaps longer.

“Can I say that I express my sadness to the local community that having been free of that for a little while they have to go back into lockdown, but it is for your safety and the community‘s safety more broadly,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Health has determined that seven days will be appropriate, but I’m just warning the community that it may be longer.”

NSW recorded 1351 local cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night and 12 deaths – the same number as the day before.

Six women and six men died, including one person in their 40s – something Mr Hazzard said highlighted the danger of the disease to all age groups.

Of the 12 deaths, 10 were unvaccinated.

“I just want to stress that the range of the ages reflects the fact that this is a is severe disease and can impact you at all ages, and for those who are still reluctant to go and get vaccines, can I say that is the way forward,” Mr Hazzard said.

Mr Barilaro also stressed vaccination numbers were crucial to maintaining a stabilised regional infection rate.

“We know there’s an abundant supply of AstraZeneca … we know Moderna is coming online and Pfizer is available through GPs and health networks,” Mr Barilaro said.

“I encourage people to continue to get vaccinated, remain vigilant, get tested, support your communities and, more importantly, take a modest approach about movement because we want to make sure that we don’t stand here locking areas down.

“It is unfortunate for communities that have an opportunity for freedom and then lose some of those pre-emptively … congratulations to those communities that are doing the right thing but get vaccinated.”

There were 44 new cases overnight in the Illawarra region, 27 new cases in Dubbo, 16 in the Hunter-New England, six in Bathurst, six in Walgett, two in Bourke, two in the state’s Far West, and one in Wellington.

WHAT ARE THE NEW RULES FOR REGIONAL NSW?

Stay-at-home orders will be lifted for Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and Upper Hunter Shire LGAs from 1pm on Thursday, September 16

These LGAs will continue to operate under some restrictions to ensure community safety, including:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces

• Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under)
• Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings

Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms

• Hospitality venues can reopen subject to the one person per 4sq m inside and one person per 2sq m outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
• Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sq m rule.
• Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sq m, capped at five clients per premises.
• Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sq m rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
• Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

Schools

• Schools will reopen with level 3 CovidSafe measures in place.

Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities

• Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sq m, capped at 5000 people.
• Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
• Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sq m or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship

• Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
• Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
• Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sq m rule, with no singing.

Travel

• Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
• Carpooling will be permitted.

Masks

• Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
• Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
• Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.

For more information, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19.