Further to earlier advice, the Chief Health Officer has revoked Byron Shire Council Local Government Area (LGA) as a hotspot for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory from 3:00pm today, 1 April 2021.

Anyone currently in mandatory supervised quarantine who is not a close contact of an existing COVID-19 case from the Byron Shire Council LGA will be able to exit.

The Chief Health Officer has also revoked the test and 14 day quarantine direction in relation to the Byron Shire Council LGA. This has been replaced by the following two testing directions which are in place from 3:00pm today:

1.       The Chief Health Officer has directed that anyone who arrives or has arrived in the Northern Territory who has been in the Byron Shire Council LGA since 26 March 2021 must self-quarantine and get a COVID-19 test in the next 72 hours and must remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is returned.

If a person has already arrived and a COVID-19 test has already been undertaken, and a negative result returned, no further action is required. Anyone awaiting a negative test result must remain in quarantine until they receive a negative test result.

2.       The Chief Health Officer has further directed anyone who arrives or has arrived in the Northern Territory who has been in the following LGAs in Northern New South Wales since 28 March must self-quarantine and get a COVID-19 test in the next 72 hours and must remain in self-quarantine until a negative test is returned:

·         Ballina Shire Council

·         Tweed Shire Council; and

·         City of Lismore

Please call COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 008 002 to book your test. For all other enquiries phone 1800 490 484.

If you are a Territorian intending to travel to Northern New South Wales you are advised to rethink your plans. If you are from Northern New South Wales and are an intending to travel to the Northern Territory you are advised to rethink your plans.

The Chief Health Officer will continue to review and assess the COVID-19 situation in Northern New South Wales and will take into account COVID-19 monitoring and data collection, the extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.

The risk of COVID-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone to follow all health directions.

• If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not travel. Make sure you get tested and stay at home.
• Maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres at all times.
• Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.
• Do not go to work if you feel sick.
• If you have symptoms, stay away from others and get tested for COVID-19.

Quotes attributable to Chief Health Officer, Dr Hugh Heggie:

“This morning we were able to revoke Queensland hotspots based on the intelligence provided to the Northern Territory from that jurisdiction. After receiving that advice that call was made as early as possible heading into the long weekend.

“Queenslanders are enjoying coming out of lockdown early due to the early public health measures put in place in that jurisdiction which acted as a circuit breaker for the emerging cluster of cases.

“Now, with more information in hand in relation to Northern New South Wales, I am also in a position to revoke the Byron Shire Council hotspot for the purposes to the Northern Territory.

“The new testing direction is a precautionary measure, proportionate to the current risks to ensure the ongoing health and safety of Territorians.