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Coronavirus: Tourist hotspot added to border bubble

Tourist hotspot Byron Bay has been added to the NSW-Queensland border bubble, allowing Queenslanders to travel to the area for holidays.

The town is part of a region of five northern NSW councils that will be included in the bubble with Queensland.

From October 1, Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Glen Innes local government areas will be included, allowing residents in those areas to apply for border passes to travel interstate.

“Many of us see these places like Byron and Ballina as local places and this means that we will be able to travel there,” Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles told reporters on Tuesday.

Queenslanders can now holiday in Byron Bay without having to quarantine on their return. Source: Getty
Queenslanders can now holiday in Byron Bay without having to quarantine on their return. Source: Getty

“Residents from there will be able to travel here relatively freely for health care, for work, to visit family and friends.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the move was a “great effort”.

On Monday, NSW recorded just one locally acquired coronavirus case for the fourth consecutive day.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the newly-included border areas has been virus-free for some time which has allowed such a decision.

Queensland recorded no new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday, Dr Miles pointing out that 12 days have passed since there was a case of community transmission.

The state has just 16 active on Tuesday, clustered around Ipswich in the state's southeast.

Aged care residents are in lockdown and there's a 10-person limit on home gatherings in eight local government areas, including Brisbane.

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