As another 92 cases of Covid were reported overnight in the Lismore Local Government Area, more empty spaces are appearing on the shelves in local supermarkets.

While we are all learning to live with a spreading virus, last year’s panic buying seems to have turned into a preemptive strike - as locals prepare for the possibility of getting sick, or having to isolate for a week.

As well as meat shortages already reported by large supermarket chains (due to supply chain issues), a trip to the supermarket by the Lismore App resulted in seeing spaces on the pet food and toilet paper shelves.

People are making sure their animals will be fed and toilets are well stocked.

Local district totals

The new cases in Lismore add to a new daily total of 778 across the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD).

Across our LGAs, the breakdown of new case numbers is as follows:

Ballina 107, Byron Shire 208, Clarence Valley 88, Kyogle 12, Richmond Valley 36, Tweed Heads 234 and Tenterfield 1.

NNSWLHD reported that Tenterfield is in a different Local Health District, but postcodes put cases in NNSWLHD.

There are 49 Covid positive patients in hospital in Northern NSW, with 6 of these in ICU.

State statistics

Across the State, NSW recorded 20,293 new cases of COVID-19 detected by PCR testing in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

The number of Covid cases is likely to be greater than that however, as increasingly people follow NSW Health’s advice to use rapid antigen tests for diagnosing COVID-19.

This means that the number of PCR tests as reported will underestimate the true number of people across the State who have tested positive for COVID-19.

There were 84,333 Covid tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 98,986.

NSW Health is reporting the deaths of 18 people; six women, 11 men, and a child aged under five.

Of the six women and 11 men, one was aged in their 30s, three were aged in their 60s, four were aged in their 70s, seven were aged in their 80s and two were aged in their 90s.

There are currently 2,030 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 159 people in intensive care, 47 of whom require ventilation.

Covid symptoms

People are at risk of developing COVID-19 for 14 days after they were last in contact with a COVID-positive person, so it is important to take precautions during this time.

While most people will become positive within the first week after exposure, around a quarter of people exposed to COVID-19 will develop their infection in the following seven days.

If you have had a high-risk interaction with someone who has COVID-19, it is important to exercise caution and avoid high-risk settings and large indoor gatherings for 14 days after you last had contact with them.

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.

All Northern NSW hospital testing clinics are open over the holiday period.

Clinics run by other providers may have different hours in the holiday period, so please check before attending: https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/about/covid-19-clinic-information/

Find your closest testing clinic on the NSW Government website or contact your GP.

Rapid antigen testing can be an additional precaution that you can take if you are planning to socialise with large groups of people, particularly indoors, or interacting with people who are elderly or have serious health conditions.

Information on how to use rapid antigen tests is available on the NSW Government website.

Book your COVID-19 vaccination, or booster if you are eligible, at any of the many GPs, pharmacies and NSW Health clinics in the region. To book, head to https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-vaccine-clinic-finder