​Stay-at-home orders will be introduced for the Albury and Lismore Local Government Areas (LGAs) from 6pm today (Thursday) for one week due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk.

These stay-at-home orders also apply to anyone who has been in Albury since 10 September and Lismore since 7 September due to recent COVID-19 exposures.

Everyone in Albury and Lismore LGAs must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can’t work or study at home.

Albury and Lismore residents who are fully vaccinated can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five people for exercise or outdoor recreation as long as all of those aged 16 or older are fully vaccinated.

To determine the extent of the risk and detect any further potential COVID-19 cases in these areas we are calling on the communities to come forward for testing in large numbers.

A strong response to testing will be a key factor in determining if these stay-at-home orders are extended beyond one week. High vaccination rates are also essential to reduce the risk of transmission and protect the health and safety of the community.

There are more than 500 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW, many of which are open seven days a week. Testing clinics in Albury and Lismore areas include:

• Albury – Albury Dorevitch Pathology Walk-in Clinic, Lavington Hall, 488 Urana Road Lavington
• Albury - Albury Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology Drive-through Clinic, Demountable Building, Albury Showground
• Wodonga - Albury Wodonga Health COVID Clinic, 79 Vermont, Street
• Wodonga - Wodonga Respiratory Clinic, 224-226 Beechworth Road
• Lismore - Lismore Base Hospital, Uralba Street
• Lismore - Lismore 4Cyte Pathology Drive-through Clinic, 47-49 Dawson Street
• Lismore - Lismore Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology Walk-in Clinic, Shop 12, Wyrallah Road Shopping Centre, 62 Wyrallah Road
• Lismore - Southern Cross University Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology Drive-through Clinic, Southern Cross University, Military Rd, East Lismore

COVID-19 vaccination is available through NSW Health clinics, GPs, pharmacies and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS).

Use the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker to find the nearest vaccination clinic, or visit Get your COVID-19 vaccination.

A list of regional and rural NSW Health vaccination clinics is available on the NSW Government website.

A number of regional LGAs have been deemed low risk and have not recorded any COVID-19 cases for the past 14 days.

Stay-at-home orders will be lifted for Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Cabonne, Dungog, Forbes, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro and Upper Hunter Shire LGAs from 1pm today (Thursday 16 September).

However, these LGAs will continue to operate under some restrictions to ensure community safety.

The following freedoms are now available to all people in regional LGAs where stay-at-home orders have been lifted:

Gatherings in the home and public spaces:

• Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).
• Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.

Venues including hospitality, retail stores and gyms:

• Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.
• Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.
• Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.
• Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.
• Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

Schools:

• Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.

Stadiums, theatres and major outdoor recreation facilities:

• Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.
• Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.
• Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated capacity.

Weddings, funerals and places of worship:

• Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.
• Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.
• Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.

Travel:

• Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.
• Carpooling will be permitted.

Masks:

• Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.
• Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.
• Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.

For more information, please visit the NSW Government website.