As new venues of concern are announced in Lismore, Kyogle, Casino, Tweed and Byron, the question of whether or not another lockdown will be called is on many people’s minds.

The new venues were announced overnight after a number of new Covid cases were discovered in Byron and Kyogle – and who had visited multiple venues across the Northern Rivers.

Read more: Two COVID cases in Kyogle today plus 22 venues of concern in the NR's including Lismore

In the NSW premier’s press conference this morning, NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant was asked if the extra cases meant another lockdown would be called.

Dr Chant said the Northern Rivers may not go back into lockdown if locals and businesses were following all the rules to limit the spread of Covid.

“All of the extra protections we now have will be kept in consideration,” she said. “Having businesses with strong Covid protections and vaccinated employees may change the how the close contact definition is looked at.

“Vacccination status will be a key factor about whether you are a close contact - and this will change what the recommended actions are.”

Covid testing drive thru relocates from Lismore

The new cluster of Covid cases in Kyogle has prompted Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) to relocate its drive thru Covid testing clinic to Kyogle from Southern Cross University.

A spokesperson for SNP said “it’s been extremely busy at Kyogle today and the local council have been supporting it greatly.”

If you need Covid testing done in Lismore, the SNP main procedure collection room is still open at Wyrallah Road in East Lismore from 7am to 5pm and you can phone the office on 66201200.

The Kyogle Covid Drive through testing site in Kyogle is located at the corner of Summerland Way & Anzac Drive and is open from 9am to 3pm.

Covid statistics

NSW recorded 941 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday There were six deaths - four of them were not vaccinated and two had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Schools return early

The NSW Government also announced this morning that schools will return earlier than the previously announced date of October 25.

Face to face learning will now resume on 18 October for kindergarten, year one and year 12 students, as part of a three-week staggered return.

Other grades will return to face-to-face learning on 25 October and 1 November.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the original plan changed because NSW was tracking towards the 70% cent double-dose vaccination coverage target faster than anticipated.

Jobsaver support phased out

The Government also announced this morning that Jobsaver support will begin to phase out as NSW reached the 70% and 80% vaccination targets.

The Jobsaver amount will change to 50% once the 80% double dose vaccination rate has been reached and NSW “opens up” again on December 1. It will be $750 a fortnight.

"Now $8 billion is being spent by the NSW Government to keep people in work,” a government spokesperson said.

“We want to keep a sustained cash flow as people come back into work, until we fully open up again into a bright summer.

"A 30% reduction in turnover will still be one of the necessary criteria."