Dr Jane Jelfs, Acting Director of North Coast Public Health Unit has confirmed another case of COVID-19 this afternoon within the LHD, takeing the total number of cases of COVID-19 in Northern NSW Local Health District to five.

All five cases are currently in self-isolation and are being monitored daily.

To date, four of the five cases had returned from overseas and the source of acquisition for the fifth case is under investigation at the time of this release.

North Coast Public Health Unit is contacting people who had been in close contact with the two new cases. Close contacts are asked to self-isolate for 14 days from their last contact with the case, or to be tested if they develop symptoms. As with other cases, these individuals will be followed-up daily and supported with ongoing advice.

As mentioned in our earlier story this morning, one confirmed case travelled on Virgin Australia flight VA1141 from Sydney to Ballina, arriving 10 March 2020. Contacts were in rows 7 – 11 Fourth local case of coronavirus confirmed.

The risk to those passengers is considered low because of the flight time, however as a matter of caution, we do ask that people who were seated in those rows 7 – 11 be alert to signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and sometimes shortness of breath.

If you develop these symptoms, call your doctor and let them know that you were in those seats on that particular flight.

There are two COVID-19 / flu clinics in NNSWLHD at present, located at The Tweed Hospital and Lismore Base Hospital. These clinics are open from 10am to 6pm daily.

There are no other locations that pose an ongoing risk to members of the public at this time. 

NNSWLHD is closely monitoring the volume of respiratory presentations at our facilities, and will use this information to determine when and if additional COVID-19/ flu clinics need to opened at other hospitals in the District.

We encourage everyone to play their part in containing the spread of COVID-19 by washing your hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, maintaining social distance and staying home if you’re unwell. Visit the NSW Health website for more advice.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx