Another major regional centre will be locked down after five venues were listed as exposure sites and NSW records another 283 confirmed COVID-19 cases to 8pm Sunday.
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A record 133,000 tests were carried out across the state yesterday, premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
At least 64 of the confirmed cases were infectious in the community.
A cafe, a pub, a coffee chain, vape store and service station in Tamworth were added to NSW Health's exposure site list late on Sunday, as the virus outbreak intensifies in northern NSW.
A person from Newcastle had travelled to Tamworth, the premier confirmed on Monday morning, as she announced the region would enter a seven-day lockdown as a precaution.
"A young lady was exposed to COVID in Newcastle, she then travelled to Tamworth on the evening of the 4th, arriving in Tamworth on the 5th," chief health officer Kerry Chant said.
She attended a number of venues before returning to Newcastle on August 5, Dr Chant said, and did not know she was infectious when she travelled out of the city.
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Close contact venues include Inland Cafe on August 5 from 9.15am to 10am, the Tudor Hotel between 11am and 11.40am the same day.
Dr Chant also listed Mr Rice on Darby Street and Habesha Ethiopian restaurant at The Junction as connected to that case.
Casual contact venues in the New England also included Supervape in Tamworth on the 5th from 10.55am to 11.05am, Ampol roadhouse from 12.25pm to 12.30pm.
No cases have yet emerged in Tamworth and restrictions will come into place at 5pm on Monday.
"Anyone in the Tamworth area should immediately isolate and have a COVID-19 test if they have even the mildest of symptoms," NSW Health said.
"Stay-at-home orders will apply to all people who live in these areas or have been there on or after 5 August 2021.
"The rules for this area will be the same as those already in place across Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock."
A case has also emerged overnight in the Byron area, a man aged in his 50s, NSW Health said.
"As a precaution everybody who is in the following local government areas should immediately isolate and have a COVID-19 test if they have even the mildest of symptoms: Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Tweed, Lismore, Kyogle and Ballina," it advised.
Armidale and Guyra entered a seven-day lockdown at 5pm on Saturday, and more Sydney local government areas were placed under harder restrictions on Sunday.
COVID-19 fragments have been detected in sewage surveillance at Dubbo, where testing has ramped up but a case is yet to emerge, for the second time in less than a week.
In the Riverina, testing continues and barely a person on the main street of Wagga was maskless at the weekend.
But as the state has observed in the course of the last week, there is little time between the first sign COVID-19 could be in an area and the full ringing of alarm bells.
Ms Berejiklian and Dr Chant reiterated the push to get vaccinated, including bringing forward second AstraZeneca jabs, however Riverina residents seeking a second jab are likely to be told to wait the full three months.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation's (ATAGI) said that because the Murrumbidgee region is classified as a non-outbreak setting, the 12 week interval should continue.
Director of Wagga's vaccination hub at Glenrock Country Practice, Dr Ayman Shenouda, reiterated ATAGI's advice and reminded local residents that a shorter interval between AstraZeneca doses is only recommended in an outbreak setting.
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"We are fortunate enough in the Murrumbidgee region to be in a non-outbreak COVID-19 setting, meaning that the preferred interval between doses of AstraZeneca remains at 12 weeks," Dr Shenouda said.
You can check your eligibility for the COVID vaccine online. If you are eligible for the vaccine you will be redirected to book or find a service near you.
Three medical experts from across the Riverina have also come together to answer some of the most common COVID-19 questions, dispel common myths, and provide some clarity.
Meanwhile, southeast Queensland came out of lockdown on Sunday as Cairns went into tougher restrictions.
Victoria's premier and chief health officer unexpectedly announced the regions will emerge from lockdown at midnight Monday.
"We've always said the moment it's safe to lift restrictions we will. While we continue to get on top of this outbreak in Melbourne, minimal primary close contacts and no new cases means we can ease setting in regional Victoria," Mr Andrews said.
"This outbreak is an important reminder that until more Australians are vaccinated, we cannot afford complacency to creep in.
"We must stay safe to stay open."
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