It's official - the Lismore Local Government Area will go into lockdown from tonight at 6pm. Read more: Stay at home orders and lockdown travel rules explained

Lismore will be one of two regional areas to go into lockdown for seven days – along with Albury.

Read more Covid news: Covid case visits local op shop - authorities release Lismore venues of concern



The news was delivered at the NSW Government Covid conference today, with a plea for Lismore residents to get tested if they have any symptoms – and to get vaccinated.

Read more: Covid drive through testing hub reopens at SCU

NSW Health’s Dr Gail said the NSW Health made the decision that the period of lockdown will be seven days "so we can get a handle on what’s going on”.

The lockdown comes after one Covid case was identified in Lismore – who had a possible link to Sydney – and who had potentially exposed the Lismore community to Covid.

NSW Deputy premier John Barilaro said the Lismore case was a parent who returned to Lismore with a child - and there was exposure at a local school.

Read more: BREAKING NEWS! COVID case in Goonellabah Public School

Border bubble

When asked how the Lismore Covid case will impact the newly opened border to Queensland, he said “today we will work with Queensland”.

“We locked down the Lismore area for the health and protection of the community – now we will work out what happens with the bubble,” he said.

Vaccine hesitancy

When asked if the decision to reactivate stay at home orders in Lismore was based on the region’s hesitancy to get vaccinated, Dr Gail said there were a “suite of factors” at play.

She said the main reasons were because there was an active Covid case in the area, but that the higher level of vaccine hesitancy did mean authorities would “have a higher level of caution” when making decisions with regard to Lismore.

“But I am confident that the vast majority of the population in that area are embracing vaccination and education themselves and talking to their families,” she said.

Read more Covid news: Covid case visits local op shop - authorities release Lismore venues of concern

Statistics

Yesterday in NSW, 1351 new Covid cases were reported, 12 people died and 10 were not vaccinated.

80.1% of the population aged over 16 have received a first dose of vaccine - which equals nearly 8.5 million in total in NSW.

48% of the population is fully vaccinated.