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Lismore will become part of the restricted zone after a positive COVID case was reported in the area.Credit:Matt Roberts/ Getty Images

The Northern NSW Local Health District has confirmed a positive case attended a school in Goonellabah on Monday,with the school closed on Thursday.

Earlier,NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard announcedLismore would go into lockdown from 6pm on Thursday for an initial seven days.

NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale said authorities were acting with a higher level of caution in Lismore,due to vaccine hesitancy in the area.

She said the emergence of the new case and the level of exposure in the community was the main reason the area had been placed back in lockdown.

In Lismore,62.6 per cent of eligible people have received one dose of a vaccine and 34.4 have received a second dose according to the latest data,compared with NSW’s overall rate of 80.07 per cent first doses and 48.53 per cent second doses.

Across Queensland,57.63 per cent have received a first dose and 39.35 per cent have received both doses.

Lismore was among the regional NSW areas to emerge from stay-at-home orders on Saturday,and waspart of the border bubble zone with Queensland which allowed residents to cross between states for essential work,school,shopping,medical reasons or caring for another person.

Those travelling for work need to show proof of at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The border bubble,including 12 NSW local government areas,was only reinstated on Monday.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said anyone who had been in the Lismore local government area in the past 14 days was not allowed to enter Queensland.

“Those currently in Queensland who have been in the Lismore area in the last 14 days should come forward,get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result,” she said.

Dr Young said she was receiving regular updates from her counterparts in NSW regarding their cases.

“We are closely monitoring COVID-19 developments in NSW and will continue to review restrictions as the situation escalates and de-escalates,” she said.

“I understand this is tough for some,but it is necessary in ensuring we can continue to protect Queenslanders.”

Only limited groups of people are able to enter Queensland if they have been in a COVID-19 hot spot.

This includes people accessing essential health care,complying with court orders,fulfilling child custody arrangements,or those people endorsed to enter as specialist workers.

- with Mary Ward and Daniella White

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