Out of the 474 new cases of Covid reported overnight in our Northern NSW Local Health District, more than two thirds of the new positive case­­­s were the result of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs).

Officially, health officials have reported 152 positive PCR tests and 322 RATs.

As the use of RATs overtakes the number of PCR tests, it’s possible RATS will become the leading indicator of the spread of Covid in our local area.

With school due to start back this week and local parents expected to conduct two RATs a week for each of their children, it will be interesting to see if the positive RAT results grow exponentially as the school term continues.

The breakdown of new Covid cases (with both PCR and RAT include) across our Local Government Areas is as follows:

Lismore 77, Tweed 158, Clarence Valley 76, Ballina 68, Byron 53, Richmond Valley 38, Kyogle 4.

There are 35 COVID-19 positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with 5 of these in ICU.

NSW statistics

Across NSW, there were 13,026 positive Covid cases, including 5,664 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 7,362 positive PCR tests.

NSW Health reported 27 deaths - 17 men and 10 women.

Five were in their 60s, six were in their 70s, 10 were in their 80s and six were in their 90s. 

Eight people who died had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, 16 people had received two doses and three people were not vaccinated.

Of the four people who died who were aged under 65, three were men and one was a woman.

Three people had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and one person was unvaccinated. All four people had significant underlying health conditions.

There are currently 2,779 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, including 185 people in intensive care, 67 of whom require ventilation.

Get tested

Northern NSW Local Health District is urging people to get tested for COVID-19 at the first sign of symptoms and isolate until a negative result is received.

Anyone who tests positive using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is required to register their result with Service NSW.

Registering your RAT result enables NSW Health to provide advice on self-isolation and managing COVID-19 symptoms at home and connect high risk people to clinical care services.

Vaccinations

Across NSW, more than 95% of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 94% have received two doses to Saturday 29 January 2022.

Of people aged 12 to 15, 83.2% have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.5% have received two doses.

Of people aged 5 to 11, 38.7% have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Everyone who is eligible for a booster is encouraged to book without delay through the COVID-19 vaccine clinic finder.

Booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are now available for people aged 18 and over who had their second dose at least three months ago. We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect themselves, their loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19.

Health also recommends that people aged 12 years and over who are severely immunocompromised have a third primary dose of vaccine from two months after their second dose.

NSW Health vaccination clinics are now administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children aged five to 11 years old. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make a booking for vaccination at any NSW Health vaccination clinic, at a general practitioner, or a community pharmacy.

Case data by postcode is also available on the NSW Government website.

For the most up to date COVID-19 information visit http://www.nsw.gov.au