The decisions by the NSW Government to make the wearing of masks when indoors mandatory from midnight tonight (23 December) and to reintroduce checking in with QR codes in more settings have been welcomed by the Mayor of the Byron Shire, Michael Lyon.
It comes after 102 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Northern NSW Local Health District in the last 24 hours with 59 cases in the Byron Shire.
“I am pleased to hear that the NSW Government is asking for masks to be worn indoors because this is a simple and effective way of protecting yourself and others,” Mayor Lyon said.
“I note that as the COVID numbers in the Byron Shire have been increasing in recent weeks so too have the number of people I have seen taking the initiative and wearing masks when shopping and out and about.
“There is no denying that COVID-19 is now established in our Shire and the reintroduction of QR codes will provide some ability for authorities and members of the public to check to see if they have been to places where they could have been exposed to the virus,” Mayor Lyon said.
“I also welcome the announcement that the Government will be supplying free rapid antigen tests to people next year as a way of managing what seems to be the ever-increasing queues of people lining up for COVID tests.
“Certainly with the high number of COVID infections in the Byron Shire people are trying to get tested but I’m being told that operating hours at some places are reduced and people are being turned away which is concerning.
“Advice from NSW Health is to now to only get tested if you have symptoms of COVID,” he said.
Byron Shire Council is promoting a COVID-Safe Summer for all locals and visitors.
Circles have been painted on the grass at Main Beach, Byron Bay, as a reminder to socially distance and signage is also in place.
“As we move into Christmas I am hoping that everyone slows down, chills out, wears a mask and gets tested if necessary,” Mayor Lyon said.
“There are six people in hospital at the moment, one of them in ICU, and the best present we can give to our community and our health workers is to keep these numbers down as much as we possibly can,” he said.
Information about COVID-19, including testing and vaccination clinics, is on Council’s website.
