It was only a matter of time before Byron Bay recorded its first case of COVID-19 following the Hen's Party visit to Byon Bay last weekend and the subsequent positive testing of seven of the eleven people in the nurse cluster.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced there was one new locally acquired case in the last 24 hours. That person attended the Hens Party in Byron Bay and has been self-isolating.

A man in his 20's was at the Ballina Henry Rous Hotel with three friends on Sunday, March 28 and in close proximity to the visiting Brisbane Hen's Party. The three friends have since returned a negative test while the man immediately self-isolated once he noticed he was at the venue with the Brisbane cluster.

If anyone visited the Ballina Henry Rous Tavern on Sunday March 28 between 1:20pm and 2:20pm and the East Ballina Golf and Sports Club between 2:25pm and 2:35pm to immediately get a COVID test and to self isolate for 14 days.

The Premier has increased restrictions for the four shires of Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay and Tweed until the end of Easter. They are:

• Limit the number of people in your home to 30.
• All venues will revert to the 4 square metre rule and must be seated.
• Mandatory mask-wearing will be in place for retail and hospitality venues which include taxi's and uber's.
• All residents are encouraged to wear masks until the end of Easter.

The Premier stressed that it is a strong preference of the state government for people in the four shires to not travel outside of these areas so consider changing your Easter travel plans.

The Northern Territory has included Byron Bay as a 'hotspot' along with Queensland so anyone visiting the NT will need to isolate at a cost of $2,500. As confirmation of a positive COVID case for the Northern Rivers as a region to be included and potentially by other Australian states and within NSW.

NSW Health said yesterday eighteen people who travelled from Queensland to NSW have been identified as having attended Queensland close contact venues to date, although four of these have since returned to Queensland.

The 14 people still in NSW have been directed by NSW Health to undergo a COVID-19 test and to self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result. These people will receive regular follow-up contact from NSW Health during this time.

The Lismore App asked how many of those are in Lismore and the Northern Rivers area with NSW Health replying they are unable to release that information.

Below is the list of 'close contact' businesses from NSW Health. If you visited these venues at the times indicated, you are to immediately get a COVID test and self-isolate for 14 days, monitoring for any COVID symptoms:

Below is the list of 'casual contact' businesses from NSW Health. If you visited these venues at the times indicated, you are to immediately get a COVID test and self-isolate until you receive a negative test result and monitor for any COVID symptoms:

Byron Bay

Boards in the Bay

12 Lawson Street

Saturday 27 March

12.40pm-12.45pm

Byron Bay Central Pharmacy

31 Jonson Street

Saturday 27 March

1:05pm-1:10pm

Main Street Burger Bar

18 Jonson St

Saturday 27 March

1.15pm-1:20pm

Surf, Dive & Ski

2/14 Jonson Street

Saturday 27 March

1.25pm-1.30pm

Ghanda

3/8 Lawson Street

Saturday 27 March 

12:00pm – 12:30pm (note extension of time)

NSW Health encourages you to stay up to date with the location list on its website.

The Byron Bay COVID case has had an impact on local sport when South Lismore forfeited their Women's Premier League match at Byron Bay due to play tonight because of the COVID threat.

There were some encouraging signs from Queensland when Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk when she announced there only 2 new community transmission cases down from 8 yesterday after 33,400 tests.

The Premier said that a decision will be made tomorrow morning about ending greater Brisbane's lockdown on Thursday and the 'hotspot' classification depending on tomorrows locally acquired COVID results.

While that is good news for those in the greater Brisbane area it is not good news for those in the Northern Rivers. Thanks Queensland.