The NSW State Government today lifted stay at home orders for certain regional areas, but with cases developing in Cooma this week, the Snowy Monaro region will remain in lockdown.

The Snowy Monaro is still in lockdown and this spells the end of any chance the snow season could re-commence for any length during spring. The only light at the end of the tunnel now is to proceed for at least 14 days without any new COVID-19 cases for this area to be released from lockdown.

For the tourism businesses, their next glimmer of hope is when the state of NSW reaches 70% fully vaccinated which would ease restrictions for regional travel to commence again.

For the towns in the Snowy Monaro who rely heavily on tourism this new lockdown extensions is a crucial blow as they will now have seen virtually the whole of peak snow season trade obliterated. Let’s now hope summer visitation is strong, but waiting until then could be very serious for some businesses survival.

The NSW road map out of lockdown is all about vaccinations, and the Snowy Monaro with under 40% of first doses lagging behind other areas, if you want to help the cause of reaching the 70% earlier, get vaccinated.

In her daily update, the Premier Gladys Berejiklian emphasised the need for everyone to get vaccinated to reach this magic 70% figure of double doses so the health department could ease restrictions.

"At the moment if you are 70% vaccinated, assuming all other things being equal and there's no major outbreaks or very high case numbers in a particular area, 70% vaccination allows you to move around anywhere in the state so long as where you go everyone else is vaccinated,” said Premier Berejiklian.

The Deputy Premier said in his daily regional media briefing one of the concerns regarding the Cooma cases is they are unsure of the source.

“That’s the concern for Cooma, and even the case yesterday, we don’t what the source is. That’s the concern for health and that’s why we continue to be concerned about Cooma,” said Mr Barilaro.

“No one will come out of a lockdown if you have had a case under fourteen days. So, you’ve got to count your last case plus fourteen days of no further cases and that would be an opportunity to come out of lockdown.”

The community is urged to get tested, especially if they have any symptoms at all and to remain vigilant with their movements.

With the lure of being released from lockdown now being having no more cases for 14 days, it is pout back solely on the community to react and be tested.

Also, with a lagging vaccination rate behind other areas, get vaccinated.

Testing facilities

Testing facilities available in the following locations in Cooma and Jindabyne.

Jindabyne HealthOne (carpark)

5 Thredbo Terrace, Open 7 days

9am – 3pm Monday – Sunday

Cooma Hospital 

Bent St, Open 7 days

Drive thru clinic – Enter off Victoria St

8am – 4pm Monday - Sunday

Cooma Pop Up Clinic

Cooma Showground on Cromwell St

Drive through Open 7 days

8am – 4pm Monday – Sunday

Get Vaccinated

Vaccinations are being delivered in Southern NSW Health LHD at South East Regional Hospital, Bega, and at mobile clinics at Queanbeyan, Jindabyne and Goulburn. More sites may become available soon.

For more information visit Southern NSW Local Health District