While there were no new cases of COVID-19 reported in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) yesterday, fragments of the COVID-19 virus have been detected in Lismore sewage.

NNSWLHD acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the samples were taken from the East and South Lismore sewage treatment plants on September 22.

"These sites serve a combined total of approximately 32,500 people in the Lismore and Goonellabah areas," she said.

It's not surprising that there are Covid fragments in local sewage, due to virus shedding from Lismore's recent Covid positive cases.

We also have the Lismore Base Hospital sewage which feeds into the local sewerage plants.

Contact tracing

Ms Weir also said contact tracing is continuing into the positive case which visited the Ballina LGA last week.

"No public exposure venues have been identified to date, and a number of close contacts have been directly contacted by NSW Health," she said.

"The last detection at these sites was on 15 September.  

"While there have been recent confirmed cases in these areas, we encourage anyone who has even mild cold-like symptoms, to get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.  

Local testing rates

During the seven days to 21 September there were 11,361 tests conducted among residents of the Northern NSW Local Health District. 

"We have seen testing numbers trending upwards in recent weeks, however it is still incredibly important that anyone who is at all unwell comes forward to get a test as soon as they develop symptoms.," Ms Weir said.

"High testing rates is one indicator which NSW Health reviews when determining the level of risk in the community, alongside confirmed cases, sewage detections and vaccination rates.

"All these factors contribute to decisions around how vulnerable communities are, and what measures need to be put in place to reduce risk of transmission, such as stay at home orders or other restriction levels."

More Covid vaccination bookings available

Currently, more than 70% of adults living in Northern NSW have now had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Program Coordinator for NNSWLHD, Matt Long, said it is a great start, but urges smore people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves, their loved ones and the broader community.  

"We now have more bookings available at the Lismore COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics for AstraZeneca," he said.

You can find your nearest available appointment by using the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder. This tool allows you to search by location or ‘next available booking’.  

GPs offer Pfizer and Moderna vaccines

“In addition to our Northern NSW LHD operated clinics, far more GPs have started offering Pfizer through September, and local Pharmacies will soon start offering the Moderna vaccine, to make accessing vaccination as easy as possible in Northern NSW,” Mr Long said.  

“We want to keep up the strong vaccination momentum that we have seen recently, with first dose vaccination rates rising by 14 to 20% points across our footprint since late August.” 

Those aged 12 years and above are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.