Along with two new reported cases of Covid-19 in the Northern NSW Local Health District, new visitor restrictions have been implemented in all hospitals from tomorrow.The total number of infections in our district is now 44, with 5 reported in the Lismore Local Government Area.NNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones said from Friday, April 3, there will be a limit of one visitor per patient in all hospitals, and visiting hours have been restricted to 1- 6pm daily.“The visitor is to be identified by the patient in consultation with their family or carer,” Mr Jones said. “Visits will occur in the patient’s room, and will be limited to one hour only, once per day.”Mr Jones said visitors entering a hospital will be asked the following questions:Have you returned from overseas in the past 14 days? Have you had close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19?Are you feeling unwell with any flu-like symptoms?“Anyone answering yes to any of these questions will not be permitted to enter,” he said.“A patient’s designated visitor will be provided with detailed information regarding social distancing and must adhere to all personal protective and hand hygiene requirements already in place when on site.” The current restrictions in Maternity/Women’s Care Units and Birthing Suites remain at one support person per birth, with no other visitors while in hospital.“NSW Health supports the World Health Organisation and Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) recommendations that one chosen support person should accompany a woman giving birth,” Mr Jones said.“Multi-Purpose Services have their own restrictions which are one designated visitor once per day for 15 minutes.“We accept that these measures may cause concern for some patients and community members, but the restrictions are in place to protect our hospital system, our patients, our staff and the wider community, especially those in vulnerable age groups.“Visitors, carers and family members should speak with the nurse in charge about any extenuating circumstances.”Mr Jones also said regarding the confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the local district that two patients being cared for in our hospitals. “The Public Health Unit is following up close contacts of cases who are located within NNSWLHD, who are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact with the confirmed case,” he said.For advice and information about COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx Residents of NSW can also call new the 24-hour COVID-19 hotline on 13 77 88 for advice and support on non-health related enquiries. For health related advice, please continue to liaise with your GP, or phone HealthDirect on 1800 022 222. Pharmacist fills scripts and calls for 'no bullying'Jobs, roads, services: Lismore Councillors call for Government assistanceLiving School balances screen time with life

In an attempt to keep some of the 73 jobs cut recently from Lismore City Council, Lismore City Councillors are calling on the Government to ensure all councils are fast tracked on the Job Keeper wage subsidy program, so that Council “can commit to retaining essential services”.The Councillors have called on both the Federal and NSW Governments to provide a range of urgent assistance measures “so that council can continue to serve the community during this critical time”. These include asking the NSW Government to cease the waste levy charges to Lismore City Council from April 1 to July 2021; and to release all road funding for grant-funded projects at the time of execution of the Deed of Agreement.“Our community is still recovering from the devastating 2017 one-in-a-hundred-year flood that had a $7.5 billion economic impact on our region,” the councillors said in a joint statement.“And in the last six months, we have been hit by the drought which almost decimated our agricultural sector, sustained major damage across our Local Government Area as a result of the devastating bushfires and bore a significant burden operating a number of Evacuation Centres, and endured another flooding of our CBD in February that hurt local businesses.“The community and Council’s workforce are disaster fatigued. “While Council is committed to providing support and maintaining essential services for our community, we urgently need financial assistance from both the Federal and State Governments as we deal with the Covid-19 virus.“We request that the Federal Government urgently creates a process for approval and fast tracking of projects that Lismore has submitted to the Department of Infrastructure.“That the Federal Government commits to funding job-creation projects immediately.“That the Federal Government ensures all councils are fast tracked on the Job Keeper program and that this is announced immediately so that we can commit to retaining essential services.“We also request that the State Government urgently approves the Growing Local Economies, Employment Lands proposal that has been with the NSW Government since July 2019 and forward the agreement for immediate execution so that Lismore City Council can retain employees and stimulate local businesses as they struggle with Covid-19.“To instruct Treasury Corporation (TCorp) to implement a loan hibernation period on all loan repayments effective from April 1 through to July 2021. “And to instruct TCorp to reduce their loan restriction ratios immediately.”

It’s been busy in local pharmacies recently, according to local pharmacist Jaga Maitland-Smith, from ChemPro at Lismore Centro. He wants to make sure he can continue to supply essential medicines to people who need them, and wants people to stop panicking and stockpiling medicines.He also told The Lismore App that new prescription dispensing arrangements made by the Federal Government do not mean that people can “bully” pharmacists into handing out medications. The recent announcement by the Government will allow Australians access to essential medicines at PBS prices, without a prescription, in a “one off” emergency during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pharmaceutical Society of Australia national president Associate Professor Chris Freeman said the dispensing arrangements will continue until at least the end of June, along with the implementation of medicine substitution when medicines are out of stock.However, pharmacist Mr Maitland-Smith said it wasn’t as easy as just coming into the chemist if you had a prescription that ran out a week ago.“If you are having a hard time getting in to see your doctor to get a prescription renewed, the doctor can send a fax to us and we can get the hard copy of the prescription later,” he said.“If your prescription ran out a week age and you still have 20 day supply, we don’t want to be bullied into giving scripts. If you are about to run out in a day or two, or have just run out and have been getting it from that pharmacy, that’s an ok situation.”Mr Maitland-Smith said that some aspects of the health care system are actually better now than before Covid-19, with the Medicare subsidised telehealth service now available to all Australians who can’t get in to see a doctor in person.“Lots of doctors are doing appointments online now by phone or video, and can fax scripts to pharmacies,” he said. “Lismore was a surge area before Covd-19, with people often waiting weeks to get in to see a doctor, but now, some surgeries in town are more timely and efficient than normal.”FranticMr Maitland-Smith said the last fortnight in his pharmacy has been “frantic”, but things are finally quietening down.“We’ve started doing home deliveries for all customers with scripts on file on Mondays and Thursdays – or posting scripts to them,” he said.“There are still people walking in through the doors to get scripts filled because they are shopping for groceries at Woolies next door – but there’s less people, and they are spaced out, so the overall risk has dropped significantly.”StockpilesMr Maitland-Smith said he was upset recently when he saw an ABC news program which had interviewed a Lismore woman who complained that there were no asthma puffers available in the whole of Lismore because people had been panic buying and stocking up the medicines.“At the time, I had 1500 asthma puffers in stock and nobody called me to ask if any puffers were there,” he said.“There were gaps in some stocks of things like face masks for a while, but we are limiting the number people can buy now, as are all pharmacies. “We need to make sure we maintain continuity of supply and limit amounts people can buy so everybody’s needs are met.“Pharmacies actually have greater holdings than they normally would right now – it’s just taking time for stock to get to shops – just like there’s enough food, but it takes time for it to get from the warehouses, them onto the shelves.“In the past, we’ve never run out of medicines because people are cautious and alert and don’t stockpile.“Even if we go into full lockdown, pharmacies and grocery stores will not close and you will always be able to access food and medicines – so don’t panic and don’t over-buy.”

A barrel of crude oil has dropped to $20 which is the lowest level since February 1999. This is partly due to the coronavirus outbreak since December but partly due to a price war between large oil producers in Saudia Arabia and Russia.A look around NSW gives you range differentiation not often seen. In Evans Head the price for regular unleaded is 114.9 cents per litre while in Lismore the average price is 135.9. As you look around the state you see some prices as low as 88 cents per litre.The difference is as much as 60 cents a litre. On a small 50 litre tank that is $30 a tank, step up to a 65 litre SUV tank and your spending $39 more.Why is there a 60 cents a litre difference in the same state?Trying to investigate this question is difficult as no one wants to talk to you about petrol prices. However, one theory is that some petrol stations will lower their prices in order to get people in their store to buy other items that are more expensive. Hence the cheap prices.Another reason is that the actual volume of petrol sales is lower now due to the coronavirus. With operating costs remaining the same, like wages and electricity, the higher prices are needed to keep the businesses afloat. This would apply more so to locally owned petrol stations.The third reason is that cheaper prices are simply not being passed on to motorists.In Sydney, the variation is more extreme with prices ranging from 88 cents to 158 cents. The only difference between Sydney and Lismore is that you can shop around and find a cheap deal. In Lismore the pricing is virtually the same, our range is 135.9 to 143.9.The indication is that prices will start to come down but how much and when?We will have to wait and see.

Lismore Shoes has opened its doors in The Village, Goonellabah.New shop but a familiar face in very unusual times.Kevin Cox used to own Lismore Shoes in Keen Street until earlier this year when he decided that the CBD was not the best location for a shoe store."In my opinion the CBD is dying", Kevin said, "I don't think the council is doing enough to reinvigorate the it""The bulk of our clientele lived in Goonellabah anyway", Kevin said, "they used to drive down into town to see us, now they don't have to drive as far".The store, which opened last Monday, was supposed to open two months ago but a car decided to park itself into his vacant store delaying the fit-out.As if that wasn't enough, Kevin now has a pandemic to deal with, so it has been an understandably quiet start to his new business."We lost everything in the flood of 2017 but managed to re-open downtown", Kevin said, "the next three years just got worse"."We started out ok in the first year after the flood, then the second year got a little better then, boom, it fell off a cliff"."I believe we have a good location, it is just bad timing for our opening".So, what does Lismore Shoes stock?"Birkenstock is our main stay", Kevin says, "Planet and Earth, Alegria for ladies work shoes as well as European leather shoes and boots"."I want to bring in Keen in the future and Naot. We also stock Revere, which is an orthotic friendly footwear that is both fashionable and functional".Kevin is a man of many talents. He is also a qualified pedorthist as well, a medical shoe expert. "I fit problem feet, a lot of my clients are elderly people" he mentioned."We can do shoe repairs , mainly on Birkenstocks as well as key cutting", Kevin added.If you are looking for a sale then check out these sandals on sale now for $30 normally $70 and are 100% recyclable. Their main ingredient is soy bean oil made in the USA. You can send them back to the States where they can grind them up to make new ones. They are sterilisable and smell like vanilla, even after you wear them.Lismore Shoes is now open in The Village, Goonellabah and is next to Affordable Beauty and Phil's Barber just down from the chemist.Pop in, say hi to Kevin and Oscar (the dog).The Lismore App wants to remind you to support local businesses at this time. Your patronage keeps the doors open and protects the livelihoods of people in our community.

Another 4 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in residents of the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) have been reported since yesterday, bringing the district’s total to 42.Lismore’s total still stands at 5, Byron Bay at 8, Tweed at 11, Ballina at 1-4.These numbers are sourced from the NSW Health website, where reported cases are broken down into Local Government AreasFrom tomorrow, a new Covid-19 clinic will be set up at Byron Central Hospital by NNSWLHD to deal with the increasing numbers. The clinic will be open 10am-4pm, seven days a week. NNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones said the new free clinic will welcome backpackers in the Byron Shire who have any Covid-19 - like symptoms, even if those symptoms are mild. It joins the three other Covid-19 clinics at Lismore, Tweed and Grafton hospitals, which are open from 10am-6pm. Mr Jones said NNSWLHD will be working with agencies including Byron Shire Council to advertise the Byron clinic and the expanded target group eligible for testing in order to connect with the backpacking community.“This is in addition to the current testing criteria for people presenting to COVID-19 clinics,” he said.Testing will be for people with respiratory symptoms or fever who meet one or more of the following criteria: • a close contact of a confirmed case • international travel in the 14 days prior to illness onset • a cruise ship passenger or crew member who has travelled in the 14 days prior to illness onset • a healthcare worker, aged care or other residential care worker • in a geographically localised area with elevated risk of community transmission. “It is vital that these respiratory clinics are not overwhelmed with people who are not in the high risk groups, which could result in delays identifying those most vulnerable,” Mr Jones said.“People do not need to phone ahead to attend the clinic. “People without symptoms do not need to be tested.”The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, headache, runny nose, or shortness of breath. Anyone with symptoms should isolate themselves from others. Mr Jones also reported that 36 of the district’s cases have a likely source of infection coming from having been overseas; 2 from having been in contact with a confirmed case or in a known cluster; 2 are not sure where it came from; and 2 are under investigation.Of the NNSWLHD cases, currently 4 Covid-19 patients are being cared for in hospitals, and 1 of these is in ICU elsewhere in NSW. The Public Health Unit is following up close contacts of cases who are located within NNSWLHD, who are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact with the confirmed case. They will be contacted daily to check that they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus. If you are considered a close contact of a confirmed case, a Health officer will contact you directly. For advice and information about COVID-19 visit CoronavirusLismore's golf course re-opens for playPowermax Computers closes its doors

Lismore City Council is taking advantage of the shutdown of its playgrounds due to COVID-19 to undertake an upgrade of Heritage Park.All Council playgrounds, skateparks and park equipment are closed due to encourage social distancing and limit the potential for coronavirus to spread.Heritage Park will undergo a $500,000 upgrade which includes a new water play area, with a range of squirters, misters and water cannons to keep kids cool in the warmer months.There will also be a new nature play area with boulders and timber features for children to climb on and new equipment in the tiny tots playground including a carousel, tree-tops tower, whirly dizzy, relocated tortoise seesaw and inground trampolines.“Given the park is currently closed until we overcome the COVID-19 crisis, this is the perfect time to get in and start the demolition process,” Council’s Open Spaces Assets Coordinator Martin Soutar said.“Construction work on the new playground is expected to begin in June, following removal of some of the older equipment.”The Heritage Park upgrade has been funded through a $250,000 grant from the NSW Stronger Country Communities Fund and $250,000 from Council raised via pocket park sales and flood insurance money.Lismore's golf course re-opens for play

Powermax Computers celebrated its 13th anniversary of opening the store today, but ironically, its doors are closed this morning.Powermax owner Alex Clarke said they made the decision to close the shop at 5.30pm yesterday due to concerns for shop staff and customers because of the potential spread of Covid-19.“Devices like phones and computers are vectors for the viruses and put our staff at risk every day,” he said. “We also have customers continuing to walk in and out of the store.”Alex said staff would finish working on any devices already submitted to the shop and when the jobs were complete, staff would arrange to with have the device couriered back to customers, or arrange to have customers pick them up.“We’ve been taking precautions, wearing gloves, while we handle devices and disinfecting them with isopropyl alcohol before, during and after service, but there’s no guarantee we can clean them completely and it puts our staff at risk,” he said.“One of the of dangers is that we accidentally pass a viral infection from one device to another, potentially sending it out to the world and infecting the public.”Alex said that all of the shop’s nine staff were healthy at the moment, but there was no guarantee that no one had the virus and was shedding viral particles onto a device in the up-to-14-day period before any symptoms might show.“We are in the early stages of the outbreak, but with community infection now happening, we can’t take the risk,” he said.Alex said the Federal Government’s newly announced jobkeeper package will keep the staff paid for the next six months.“Our business advisors have said we will be eligible for the wage subsidies and we will be spending out of our savings to keep everybody afloat until May, when the payments are supposed to come through,” he said.“It’s a risk we take, if we are deemed ineligible later.”The decision to close the shop was not made lightly and Alex said he and Powermax co-owner Amelia O’Hearn has done talked about it extensively before deciding to draw a line and close the shop.“The elephant in the room is that we are an essential service,” Alex said.“Apple closed all its stores three weeks ago across the world and people now have few options to get their Apple devices repaired.“People will need to mail them to Apple directly and there will be a much longer turnaround for jobs.“People can call the Apple support number on 1300 321 456. They have repair centres in Australia and have infinite resources, unlike us, to keep things safe and sterile at their centres.” 

Scholarships are available for a webinar series for graziers and young farmers regenerating land in the Northern Rivers. The online workshops begin on April 3 and are offered as three webinars over six weeks with online community learning and a rescheduled paddock field day. The workshops on regenerating soils and farms with grazing explores what can be done to regenerate land, produce great livestock and improve farm profit.The key to resilient farm businesses is based on our soils. Using regenerative grazing and other techniques, we can make immediate and lasting changes to improve our land and business. The series is hosted by @southernblueregenerative and the Regenerative Ag Alliance at Southern Cross University, with scholarships supported by Lismore City Council Rural Landholder Initiative and North Coast Local Land Service.Head here to get your discount code and receive $100 off.Sign up for the webinar series here.Survey calls businesses to talk Covid-19 impacts

When some people hear the term 'Shop Local' they can think that it will cost them more to do so.Normally, we don't mind paying a little bit more for an item that a big national chain stocks as long as it is not too much more. After all, everyone wants to help local business owners as their profits get reinvested into our community. Where does the big national retailers profit go? Not in our district that's for sure.While on a shopping trip today (yes it was a one person restricted trip Mr Morrison!) I did a bit of price comparison on fruit and vegetables. A mainstay of any shopping list.Firstly, Coles Goonellabah.Now, Lomardo's in Goonellabah, 100 metres up the road.Now, I am no mathematical genius but $14.90 versus $9.99 a kilo is big difference. Then again $12.90 to $4.90 for the green capsicums is even bigger.Back to Coles.Now, Lombardo's.Broccoli $11.50 to $8.99.This is not an ad for Lombardo's, it is about shopping local. A ring around and you see Farmer Charlies is $8.99 for broccoli too as is PJ's Country Fruit and Veg in the CBD. Red capsicums are $12.99 with greens $8.99 at PJ's.The word from those stores is that prices will drop from tomorrow as supply increases due to the cooler weather.So, not only does shopping local help the community it can definitely put some dollars back in your pocket. All you need to do is make the effort.The Lismore App wants to remind you to support local businesses at this time. Your patronage keeps the doors open and protects the livelihoods of people in our community.(the prices were accurate as of 1:45pm on March 31, 2020)

March 31, 2017 Lismore was hit by the one in a hundred year flood. Three years later we are being hit with the first major viral pandemic since 1918, again one in a hundred years. Oh, and in between we have had a drought and a major bushfire.2017(thank you Rebekka Battista!)2020Water to a virtual wasteland in three years.Is March 31 our doomsday date?My point for posting these pictures at this particular moment is to say that Lismore and villages have survived a lot of drama and turmoil recently but we get through it.We get through it be helping each other whether it is helping businesses keep their doors open or by helping your neighbour or friends today especially the elderly and vulnerable.The advantage of being a small city or a large town (depending on how you look at it) is that we bond together as a community and get stuck in when times are tough.The Lismore App Takeaway/Home Delivery button (yellow front page) is a great example of that. Thanks to you local businesses are keeping staff as well as paying rent and hopefully themselves during these highly restrictive times Takeaway/Home DeliveryWe ask that you continue to help support local businesses and start with the ones listed on the Lismore App.The Lismore App wants to remind you to support local businesses at this time. Your patronage keeps the doors open and protects the livelihoods of people in our community.

Another new case of coronavirus has been reported in the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) since yesterday.Now, the district’s total stands at 38, with 5 of the reported cases in the Lismore Local Government Area.Listed by likely source of infection, 30 of the cases are acquired from overseas; 3 from contact with a confirmed case or in a known cluster; 2 are not identified; and 3 are under investigation.Of the NNSWLHD cases, currently 4 COVID-19 patients are being cared for in hospitals, with 1 of these in ICU elsewhere in NSW. To find visit out data about coronavirus confirmed cases by Local Government Area, visithttps://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/covid-19-lga.aspxThe Public Health Unit is following up close contacts of cases who are located within NNSWLHD, who are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact with the confirmed case. They will be contacted daily to check that they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus. If you are considered a close contact of a confirmed case, a Health officer will contact you directly. For advice and information about COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspxResidents of NSW can also call new the 24-hour COVID-19 hotline on 13 77 88 for advice and support on non-health related enquiries. For health related advice, please continue to liaise with your GP, or phone HealthDirect on 1800 022 222. How safe is your shopping from coronavirus?Fines and jail terms if you leave home without an excuseFrom a flood to a pandemic in three years

Nimbin resident Helen Badger is 70 years old and goes to extraordinary lengths to clean her groceries after they arrive at home from the supermarket. Helen is one of the immune compromised people in our community and she worries about the risk of becoming infected from touching surfaces which may have been in contact with Covid-19.So, how far should we go when it comes to cleaning items we buy from shops in this age of coronavirus? Social media pages are full of stories of people wondering how safe things are to touch after seeing others coughing onto products in the supermarket isles and touching surfaces with their hands.A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was detectable in aerosols for up to three hours, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.The results suggest that people may acquire the virus through the air and after touching contaminated objects. It was after hearing about this that Helen and her husband started their shopping cleaning regime.“I’ve only been shopping once in the last month – my husband does the shopping now, because I have lung problems,” Helen said.“When he goes to the supermarket, he leaves home at 6.30am and does the pensioner supermarket shopping hour at 7am as quickly as possible - and then he comes home for the decontamination process.“He disinfects his hands, then takes off his shoes and washes his clothes.“We spray the reusable shopping bags made of material with disinfectant and leave them in the sun.“We have different disinfectants we use - I have pure metho in a spray bottle and a disinfectant spray of eucalyptus and I have wipes. “We wash the fruit and vegetables in the sink – they have been handled by many people before it gets to us – it’s the most dangerous thing there is. The hardest to clean is onions and garlic – many things I leave on the veranda in the sun as long as possible.“We wipe down the plastic on the products and remove the cardboard packaging on products and get rid of it.“Some people think it’s too hard to do all that. It depends if your life depends on it. “We had wood delivered yesterday and I didn’t want the deliverer to stand too close to my husband. Some people don’t get it and sometimes I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle. “Maybe I’m over cautious, but it depends how vulnerable you feel - I have lots of health problems.  “I’m even reluctant to go to the doctor and expose myself to other people. “How long until this is all going to disappear? It’s a different world now.“We are the lucky ones, we might be old, but we are mobile and live on two acres and are making vegetable gardens, growing pumpkins and watermelons.“People who live alone are more lonely and will miss going out more. I feel sorry for my young ones.”Shopping tips There are various information sources available on the internet with tips on how to keep yourself safe from infection from coronavirus. There are different opinions of whether masks are useful or not - some say it depends on the type of masks you use. But, sometimes wearing a mask can help to keep other people away from you, and remind you to not touch your mouth, nose or eyes while you are wearing it.Apart from the standard social distancing regulations of keeping 1.5 metres away from other people, other shopping tips for when at the supermarket include:Wipe your hands and shopping cart, commit to what you are buying – don’t touch it otherwise - and plan what you will buy for two weeks.Coronavirus

The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre and the Nimbin Transfer Station have reopened today as essential services only.Lismore City Council has said the facilities are now only open for residents who do not have a kerbside waste collection service and business operators in the Lismore Local Government Area.All visitors are now required to book before arriving. Anyone without an approved booking will not be permitted entry.Council’s Infrastructure Services Director Peter Jeuken said the changes are vital to safeguard the community and staff from COVID-19.“The World Health Organisation has confirmed studies that the COVID-19 virus can exist on surfaces for several days in favourable environments where it is undisturbed – this would potentially include metal, plastic and timber surfaces, and things like food waste, bottles, furniture and mattresses,” Mr Jeuken said.“This represents an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of the community and our critical workers that are required to keep this service going throughout the life of the pandemic.“We have made a decision that staff will no longer handle any waste materials and we will limit contact with customers. Visitors attending the facility will be directed to a location for unloading their waste and it will then be moved by machine into skips.”Residents without a kerbside waste collection service are asked to ensure their waste is securely contained, wrapped or bagged and the contents it not able to spill once dropped off.Residents that have a kerbside waste collection service should not visit any of Council’s waste facilities until further notice.New operating hours are also now in place to allow for additional cleaning of the facilities. The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre will be open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 3pm and the Nimbin Transfer Station will be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 3pm.No hazardous wastes will be accepted until further notice at these facilities and visitors will be required to pay using electronic payment – cash will not be accepted until further notice.The Lismore Revolve Shop, the Container Deposit Scheme bulk collection centre, Brewster Street Drop-off Centre and the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens are all closed indefinitely.To make a booking, phone Council on 1300 87 83 87. Callers will need a vehicle registration number and home address they can verify with current ID.Survey calls businesses to talk Covid-19 impacts

If you leave your home without a reasonable excuse, you could be subject to an $11,000 fine, under new restrictions brought in today.The NSW Government public health order (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement Order 2020) is intended to reduce the spread of Covid-19 infection. It means that you must stay at home unless you are going to work (where you can’t work remotely), to school, shopping, to get medical care or supplies, or to exercise.You are also allowed to leave home to avoid injury or illness or escape a risk of harm;deal with emergencies or on compassionate grounds;access childcare;provide care or assistance (including personal care) to a vulnerable person or to provide emergency assistance;attend a wedding or funeral (subject to 5 and 10 person limits);move to a new place of residence, or between your different places of residence;donate blood;and undertake legal obligations.You are also allowed to access social services, employment services, services provided to victims (including as victims of crime), domestic violence services, and mental health services.Parents can also continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children for children who do not live in the same household as their parents or one of their parents.You may leave your house if needed in your role as a volunteer for a charity.The maximum penalty for breaching the public health order is $11,000, or imprisonment for 6 months, or both – and a further $5500 penalty may apply for each day the offence continues.The NSW Police may also issue on-the-spot fines of $1000 for an offence.In the case of any corporation, the maximum penalty is $55,000 and a further $27,500 penalty may apply for each day the offence continues.A two person gathering rule is also in place for public spaces, except for gatherings with members of the same household.Your place of residence is not considered a public place.This public gathering rule does not apply to a gathering for work purposes;for a wedding or funeral (which are subject to 5 and 10 person limits);to facilitate a move to a new place of residence;to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person;to provide emergency assistance, or;which is an essential gathering described below.Foodbanks and homeless shelters have not been closed under the orders.Survey calls businesses to talk Covid-19 impacts

A survey to find out how the Covid-19 pandemic is impacting on local businesses in the Northern Rivers is ready for your input.Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers director Tim Williamson said the Australian Business Economic Impact Survey is looking to gather information on the current situation and its impacts at a local geographic scale.“The survey is a response to the rapid change experienced by businesses as a result of Covid-19,” Mr Williamson said. “The national economic landscape, state to state and region to region is diverse and the survey is specifically targeting insights around change in employment and economic impact at an industry scale. "Businesses might find it hard to complete a survey, but it is important that we get the best on the ground information that we can. "We are all aware of the volume of misinformation and disinformation which is currently doing the rounds, so I encourage you to distribute this survey to your local industry networks and contacts to ensure a source of integrity."Mr Williamson said insights from the survey, with analysis, will be provided to federal, state and local governments to enable a targeted response for industry and key public sector investment.The survey is being conducted by REMPLAN and can be accessed at https://www.remplan.com.au/covid-19-australian-business-economic-impact-study/

As coronavirus progressively moves through the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD), today we add another four confirmed cases of Covid-19 to the total. This means an increase of 12 cases in the last three days. Now, the total number is the local area is 37 residents. In Lismore, the number of confirmed cases has risen to 5.NNSWLHD chief executive Wayne Jones reported that 30 cases of Covid-19 infection were acquired overseas; three from having been in contact with a confirmed case or a known cluster; two were not identified; and two are still under investigation.Of the NNSWLHD cases, four COVID-19 patients are being cared for in hospitals, and one of these is in an Intensive Care Unit elsewhere in NSW. Four people are considered to have recovered. “The Public Health Unit is following up close contacts of cases who are located within NNSWLHD, who are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days from last contact with the confirmed case,” Mr Jones said.“They will be contacted daily to check that they are well and anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms will be tested for the virus. “If you are considered a close contact of a confirmed case, a Health officer will contact you directly.”For advice and information about COVID-19 visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx Residents of NSW can also call new the 24-hour COVID-19 hotline on 13 77 88 for advice and support on non-health related enquiries. For health related advice, please continue to liaise with your GP, or phone HealthDirect on 1800 022 222. 

A new jobkeeper payment of $1500 per fortnight for people currently in jobs, has been announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison this afternoon. The news was received by Summit Fitness owner Matt George after some of his excited employees rang him.“If we’d have had that announcement a week ago, it would have changed everything,” Matt said. “I wouldn’t have had to let go my staff.“I’ll be able to put all my staff back on the books and restructure the business. Most of them have been with me ten years or more.“They are all Lismore mums and dads and so grateful to have that wage support and remain part of Summit.” Covid-19 infections on the rise locallyMatt George, owner of Summit Fitness in Goonellabah.PM Morrison announced that the jobkeeper payment means “employees won’t be going to Centrelink, they will be going directly to their employer and we will reimburse employers”.“It’s designed to not just keep them in pay, but in jobs – and will kick in when any business drops turnover by 30% or more,” Mr Morrison said.The payment is part of a new round of measures amounting to $130 billion in wage subsides, and is planned to run over the next six months to “cushion the impact from coronavirus” and “share the load with the welfare system to deliver income supports”.Calling it “uniquely Australian”, PM Morrison said the flat payment was equivalent to 70% of the median wage, and would be the same for any employee, regardless of how much money they earned up until now. The jobkeeper payments will begin in early May and will be backdated to March 1. The payment is available to full and part time workers, as well as casual workers who have been with employers 12 months or more. For employers who had already stood down employees since March 1 as a result of a business downturn, the PM said if the employees were reinstated, the jobkeeper payments would be backdated to March 1.  The new payment also applies to not for profit organisation employees, as well as New Zealanders in Australia on 444 visas.Stay at home and keep moving: Lismore fitness options go online

With only half of the taxi fleet now operating and more plans to reduce fleet numbers, Lismore Taxis’ drivers are doing it tough right now.Taxi owner Graham Casey said despite a massive downturn in customers due to coronavirus movement restrictions, the local Lismore taxi service wants to try to maintain a 24 hour service.“We get people who need a taxi to take them to hospital or to medical appointments,” Graham said.“A lot of elderly people use the service to get to the supermarkets too – often they will go out three times a week as their only outing, but now they might only go out once a week.“We also advertise on Facebook that we will do deliveries of take away food.”Graham said he’s been “in the game” for 30 years and the coronavirus is impacting on the taxi industry much more than the recession did in the early 2000s.“We took six cars off the road then, but it was nothing like this,” he said.“We’ve already halved the fleet. We had five cars out there last Thursday night that did four jobs. The drivers were working for about $2 per hour. “We also don’t have as many school runs, with most people staying home. But we want to keep vehicles on road, as long as our drivers want to take a risk.” Covid-19 infections on the rise in local health districtGraham said safety measures put in place by the taxi service include thorough car cleaning procedures while the taxis are stopped in the taxi rank, and some drivers are choosing to wear masks.“But we’ve been told masks are not such a great thing,” he said.“We also make sure the passengers sit in the back seat and we keep the window open so the air flows backwards through the car.“Lismore’s hospital is a central location, so it doesn’t take long to get there and we don’t say no to people who want to get a taxi.”While taxis are deemed an essential service, Graham said the taxi drivers will meet later this week to discuss the roster and taking more cars off the road. “It may be we just keep one quarter of the fleet on the road,” Graham said.“If we have about seven cars in service each day and night and we all take turns every two weeks, then over time we all get a chance to make some money and pay expenses.”Graham said the structure of Lismore Taxis was a collaborative of individually owned taxis, with 21 separate owners and their drivers, who were all struggling to pay the running costs of operating a taxi. “It costs about $1200 a month to keep a taxi on the road,” he said. “The overheads are huge – there’s the insurance, green slip and car registration – and then the base fees on top of it so we can keep Lismore Taxis and staff operating. “We’ve also got new people who’ve just bought into the business, trying to making payments on cars - and need to meet installments."It makes it hard and we’ve just got to push on."“The people who advertise rideshares are not around in these hard times, but Lismore taxi drivers are going to keep going.”Government announces new wage subsidy package