Stay-at-home orders will be introduced for the Albury LGA from 6pm Thursday for one week due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk.
Lismore LGA has also been put into a snap lockdown.
The 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.
To determine the extent of the risk and detect any further potential COVID-19 cases in these areas, NSW Health is 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 the stay-at-home orders are extended beyond one week, the department said.
High vaccination rates are also essential to reduce the risk of transmission and protect the health and safety of the community.
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.
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).
