Byron Bay back to normal: Covid restrictions are lifted in northern New South Wales four days after infections linked to Queensland clusters
COVID-19 restrictions for northern NSW have been lifted following the fourth day of no locally acquired cases.
About 200,000 residents in the region were last Wednesday ordered to wear masks in most indoor public areas and limit house gatherings to no more than 30.
The directive was cancelled as of 11.59pm on Monday.
A COVID-19 cleaning team member hands out free face masks to people in Byron Bay on April 3
The restrictions were put in place after NSW diagnosed its first case linked to two clusters in southeast Queensland following an outbreak at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital in March.
Testing increased tenfold in the region following the outbreak.
‘These efforts have provided us with the confidence to lift the restrictions, but we are still in a period of increased risk and we urge the community to remain vigilant for the next week,’ NSW Health said in a statement on Monday.
Close contacts of coronavirus cases are required to continue self-isolating for 14 days from their date of exposure and get tested again at the end of this period, the health department said in a statement on Monday.
People enjoying a game of volleyball on the beach on April 4 in Broken Head, northern NSW
COVID-19 restrictions for northern NSW have been lifted following the fourth day of no locally acquired cases
Meanwhile, NSW Health will open another 36 vaccine clinics during the week, adding to the 79 clinics already up and running, the department said.
It is preparing for a large-scale vaccine rollout, dependent on the federal government’s vaccine supply continuing to arrive as promised.
NSW has administered 126,526 vaccines so far, with 30,253 jabs completed in the week ending Sunday.
Of these, 18,077 were first doses and 12,176 were second doses, the department said on Monday.
Four million Australians had been due to have jabs by the end of March, a target missed by more than 3.3 million.
About 200,000 residents in the region were last Wednesday ordered to wear masks in most indoor public areas and limit house gatherings to no more than 30
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