The coronavirus situation is constantly changing as new measures are introduced.
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With that in mind, The Northern Daily Leader will be bringing you the latest news as it comes to light - all in one location.
With a focus on local issues, we will update this story with all the latest news so you don't have to go digging around for all the information.
MAN SENTENCED FOR ATTACKING WOMAN OVER TOILET PAPER SHORTAGE
The Tamworth man who turned on two women and police after a confrontation over a toilet paper shortage has been sentenced for the unprovoked attack.
STILL NO NEW CASES
A testing blitz in Tamworth has uncovered no new confirmed COVID-19 cases, despite a massive increase in testing over the past 10 days.
WARRIORS STITCH 2340 ON JERSEY
IT'S BEEN their home away from home and now Tamworth has been permanently stitched up with the New Zealand Warriors.
SUICIDES SET TO RISE BY 50 PER CENT
Australia's leading minds on mental health have warned suicide rates could rise by up to 50 per cent in the wake of the catastrophic and prolonged economic impacts of COVID-19.
TAS SAY WE MISS YOU
In a mammoth collaborative effort undertaken since the end of Term 1, The Armidale School has taken part in the 'Blinding Lights' challenge to say 'we miss you' to students.
WARRIORS VISIT TO CITY 'INCALCULABLE'
Tamworth's mayor says the New Zealand Warriors' visit has taken the city around the world.
RESTRICTIONS WILL NOT BE LIFTED BEFORE MOTHER'S DAY
Social distancing measures will remain in place this weekend with no lift to restrictions ahead of Mother's Day, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says.
JOBKEEPER HELPS AG INDUSTRY
Jobkeeper payments extended to businesses in drought will be a lifeline to Tamworth's agricultural industry as far as Business NSW regional manager Joe Townsend is concerned.
NO NEW CASES IN DISTRICT
No new coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Tamworth in the latest testing period as screening numbers continue to soar.
PAMPER PACKS EASE BURDEN
In an effort to bring some happiness and ease to the lives of many struggling with the COVID-19 restrictions, the dedicated women have been delivering pamper packs across the region.
FACETIME HELPS OUT RESIDENTS
The generosity of staff members at an aged care facility has helped keep elderly residents connected with their families during the COVID-19 shut down.
STUDENTS FACE HSC LIKE NO OTHER
Fear of the unknown in these ever changing times is causing trepidation in many students across the state tackling the HSC this year.
OPEN HOMES TO RETURN
An end to the ban on open homes couldn't come for a better time for the Tamworth real estate sector, one agent said.
LIFE IN ISOLATION FOR THE WARRIORS
Just behind metres of black tarp designed to keep out prying eyes, the NRL NZ Warriors have turned Scully Park into a slice of home.
RESPIRATORY CLINIC TO OPEN
The clinic allows people who suspect they may have coronavirus to seek treatment outside their GP and Tamworth Hospital, to help keep others safe.
CLINICS EXTENDED
Speciality coronavirus screening clinics at Tamworth and Armidale have been extended for another week after high demand for the tests.
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS
Tamworth leaders have pleaded with the community to rally behind small businesses in what they hope is the final push to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, which have been crippling some local retailers.
SCREENING RATES SOAR
THE specialised coronavirus testing clinic at Tamworth hospital has now screened almost 1400 people within one week.
JOYCE WANTS TO TEST APP CONFIDENCE
Days after Barnaby Joyce retweeted an interview he did with Sunrise tearing strips off the COVIDSafe app on social media - he's decided to challenge anyone with a raving endorsement of it to hand in their resignation if it leaks.
COUP FOR CITY
Getting Tamworth ready for the Warriors in just weeks shows the city has the "can do" attitude to bid for bigger sporting events in the future, Kevin Anderson said.
WARRIORS FIRST DAY OF ISOLATION
Coach Stephen Kearney says getting his players to pile on the beef is one of the enormous challenges facing the Warriors in their "trailblazing" NRL quarantine.
EXPLAINER: WHICH RESTRICTIONS WILL BE EASED?
By the end of the week Australians might have an idea as to when pubs will be reopened.
Social distancing guidelines are set to be gradually phased out with national cabinet set to meet on Tuesday and Friday this week to make decisions on how this will happen.
DIGITAL DIVIDE DEEPENS
Australians face social and economic harm as the country's digital divide deepens, research from the Centre for Social Impact reveals.
WARRIORS HEAD INTO LOCKDOWN
The New Zealand Warriors have touched down in Tamworth, after a delayed flight from Auckland.
TESTS TOP 1700
More than 1700 people have been tested for coronavirus in Tamworth but there are still no confirmed active cases in the city.
MAN ACCUSED OF BREACHING RULES
A Tamworth man has been refused bail, accused of breaching the state's public health orders.
TWO WARRIORS MISS FLIGHT
The New Zealand Warriors are missing two key players on their flight to Tamworth on Sunday afternoon.
WARRIORS EN ROUTE
Border force officials as well as Oxley police have arrived at Tamworth Airport ahead of the New Zealand Warriors who are en route to Australia.
WE CAN END HOMELESSNESS
COVID-19 has meant an end to the scourge of homelessness in Tamworth, at least for the duration of the coronavirus crisis, according to one housing organisation.
WARRIORS GIVEN GREEN LIGHT
The New Zealand Warriors are set to arrive in Tamworth on Sunday afternoon after government authorities gave the NRL team the green light to quarantine in the city.
TESTS SKYROCKET
The number of people in Tamworth who have been tested for coronavirus has almost doubled in a week.
BUSINESSES ARE HERE TO STAY
A new campaign is set to allay fears and reassure the community that our businesses are 'HERE TO STAY'.
WESTS TRANSFORMS
The NRL, NZ Warriors and Wests Tamworth Leagues Club were all sweating on Australian Border Force approval for a bold quarantine plan on Friday night.
NO DECISION MADE ON WARRIORS
No decision has been made on whether Tamworth Airport will be turned into an international airport for the arrival of the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday afternoon.
LOCAL NEWS AT RISK
Regional media companies have urged the Morrison government to speed up the release of guidelines for the $50-million COVID-19 relief package it trumpeted last month, warning more local news services are at risk.
DATA SHOWS NO NEW CASES
A new heat map from health authorities shows there are no confirmed active cases of COVID-19 in the Tamworth area.
EXPERTS BACK APP
The government's COVID-19 contact tracing phone application has already been downloaded onto more than three million Aussie phones just three days after launching.
NO NEW CASES DESPITE TESTING INCREASE
No new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Tamworth in the latest 24-hour testing period, despite a huge increase in testing in the city over the past couple of days.
HUNDREDS TESTED DURING BLITZ
Testing for COVID-19 in Tamworth has skyrocketed in a matter of days, with the launch of a testing blitz on Monday.
TAMWORTH ONLY CHOICE FOR WARRIORS
It's touch-and-go for the New Zealand Warriors as the NRL team waits on a final decision from the Australian Border Force (ABF).
RULEBREAKER COPS FINE
He's already copped several $1000 fines but the man who flagrantly breached the state's COVID-19 laws has walked from court after being put on a bond.
MYSTERY PATIENTS PROMPTED BLITZ
Community transmission of COVID-19 in the Tamworth area is one of the "main drivers" behind a testing blitz in town this week.
SHOES HOT ITEM AS STORES REOPEN
Runners, work boots and leisure loafers: With the COVID-19 measures forcing a lifestyle adjustment for many, people are flocking to shoe retailers to accommodate their changing needs.
COVID-19 CASE COUNT DROPS
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Tamworth has dropped by one after a patient was taken off the city's list.
HOME ISOLATION RULES TO BE RELAXED
Home isolation rules in NSW will be eased from Friday and full face to face teaching in schools could resume sooner than anticipated.
MAYOR WELCOMES WARRIORS
The mayor of Tamworth has rolled out the welcome mat for the Warriors to self-quarantine in the city, saying they'll simply shut the gates to their training facility.
WESTS WAIT FOR TICK OF APPROVAL
Wests Entertainment Group CEO Rod Laing is waiting for confirmation on whether the New Zealand Warriors will be able to isolate in Tamworth for two weeks prior to the NRL restarting.
TESTS IN TAMWORTH SET TO JUMP
Testing for coronavirus in Tamworth is set to peak this week with a drive-through clinic launching at Tamworth hospital on Monday.
MANAGER BUYS GROCERIES FOR ELDERLY WOMAN ISOLATING
"I just straight away thought I need to help this lady, I told her to tell me what she needed and that I'd be out in an hour, I didn't hesitate.
BUDGET FACES DEFICIT
The outbreak of COVID-19 is estimated to blow a $4 million hole into Tamworth Regional Council's (TRC) bottom line by the end of the financial year.
NRL LOOKING AT TAMWORTH FOR TRAINING BASE
The Warriors appear set to train in isolation for two weeks in Tamworth after being granted federal government exemption to enter Australia this week.
MAYOR ON THE FRONT FOOT WITH APP AND TESTING
A ping on a mobile phone is all it takes to find out you might have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
TAMWORTH TESTING BLITZ BEGINS
Testing clinics for COVID-19 will open in Tamworth and Armidale on Monday as Hunter New England Health (HNEH) launches a week-long testing blitz in the two cities.
JUST TWO NEW COVID-19 CASES IN NSW
NSW has recorded its lowest daily rise in COVID-19 cases in more than seven weeks, with authorities begging residents to not become complacent in their social behaviour.
OPINION: FIVE REASONS IT'S SAFE FOR KIDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL
The federal and state governments who say it is safe for children to return to school are working off the latest evidence. Here are five reasons we know it's safe.
AUSSIES DOWNLOAD APP
More than one million Australians have downloaded the coronavirus tracing app within hours of its release.
NEW CASE RECORDED
Tamworth has recorded a new case of coronavirus with the city's case count rising to 14 on Sunday.
LADIES LEAGUE TAG STICKING TOGETHER
North Tamworth Bears ladies league tag coach James Cooper praises his club for sticking together during COVID-19 pandemic.
TEST BLITZ IN TAMWORTH
Testing clinics for COVID-19 are being set up in Tamworth and Armidale as Hunter New England Health (HNEH) launches a one-week testing blitz in the two cities.
GENDER EQUALITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
As the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic emerge, one peak women's health organisation says it's mostly women who are on the front line doing jobs which have until now been taken for granted.
FEARS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE SPIKE
Services providing protection and shelter for victims of domestic violence fear that a prolonged COVID-19 shutdown will expose women and families to greater domestic danger.
WATCH THE RUBY PRINCESS SET SAIL
Watch the cruise ship sail out of Port Kembla.
BON VOYAGE, RUBY PRINCESS
The Ruby Princess cruise ship, tragically linked to more than 20 of the nation's coronavirus-related deaths, is on its way out of Australian waters.
RECOVERY DATA RELEASED
There were no new cases reported in the district over the last 24-hour testing period, but two new cases in the state are health care workers. For the first time, NSW Health has revealed statistics about patient recovery.
TAMWORTH TO BRISBANE FLIGHT PATH
The gates to Brisbane have opened as Fly Corporate launches a twice-weekly return service from Tamworth.
HOW THE CORONAVIRUS ARRIVED IN THE NORTHERN TABLELANDS
Among the passengers on the train from Sydney just before the last weekend of March were an Inverell couple, and an Armidale resident, all returning home.
WARNING OF SECOND WAVE
Certain parts of the world have barely come to terms with coronavirus, and now experts are warning of an even more destructive second wave.
THE LONELY DEATH OF BILL BRACKEN
Bill Bracken died from COVID-19 with nurses holding his hands. With his wife in isolation and his children interstate, he was cremated without a funeral.
BOWLS FEELS THE 'PINCH'
BOWLS clubs across the district are finding new ways to help keep afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. But Zone 3 president Ian Bannister believes each club will be "feeling the pinch" in some form or another.
LIGHT UP THE DAWN
As the sun spills over the horizon, in the quiet of dawn, Tamworth residents are asked to remember the great sacrifice of soldiers from the end of their driveways this Anzac Day.
HOONING AROUND THE CBD? THAT'LL COST YOU
People in Qurindi, Inverell, Narrabri and Glen Innes are the latest this week on top of others in Tamworth to be fined $1000 for being in breach of the state's public health orders.
NIAS CANS PRIMARY GAMES
One of Tamworth's most financially lucrative sporting events has become the latest cancellation because of the COVID-19 pandemic - the National Primary Games has been abandoned because of the state government restrictions surrounding public gatherings.
RETURN TO SCHOOL WILL BE PROBLEMATIC
A staggered return to school from May 11 will pose serious problems for regional areas, as far as NSW Teachers Federation Angelo Gavrielatos is concerned.
THE BUSINESS MAKING ALMOST ONE MILLION SURGICAL MASKS PER WEEK
A regional Victorian business is leading the fight to restock the nation's dwindling medical supplies, manufacturing almost one million surgical masks a week.
NSW RUGBY LEAGUE COULD KICK OFF IN JULY
NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) announced on Wednesday competitions could start on July 18, under the state government's public health order, introduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
HERE'S HOW RETAIL SURGED DURING PANIC BUYING
A rush to stockpile groceries and office supplies ahead of looming COVID-19 lockdown measures pushed retail turnover up by a monthly record of 8.2 per cent in March.
MOTORISTS WAIT FOR CHEAPER FUEL
Oil prices have fallen into the negatives for the first time ever, but Australians will have to wait and see if it means cheaper petrol.
TEACHERS MISS THEIR STUDENTS
Calrossy teachers have missed having real kids in their classrooms during the COVID-19 shutdown. On the last day of term, a week ago, teachers from the school created a YouTube video for their pupils to show it.
KIDS HAVE COLOURFUL OUTLOOK
Childcare centres across the region have been taking a colourful approach to the COVID-19 pandemic through a world-wide movement. The Rainbow Week movement began in Italy and has since reached centres across the world.
AGQUIP POSTPONED
Australia's biggest agricultural field day has been pushed back three months in Gunnedah in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
TRACING ONGOING ACROSS REGION
No new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Tamworth or Armidale in the latest 24-hour testing period, after fears a government office had been contaminated with the virus.
COUPLE COP $1000 FINES
A couple have been slapped with $1000 fines for breaching public health orders, accused of driving to a Tamworth home where a violent confrontation unfolded.
MAGPIES' VIRTUAL EFFORT
Tamworth Rugby Union Sporting Club is refusing to let the pandemic get its playing group down and is using the power of the internet to connect its members. The Magpies have been hosting online interview sessions, which have profiled some of the clubs biggest on and off-field personalities.
DOZENS OF WORKERS LEAVE RUBY PRINCESS
There were cheers, waves, thank yous, happy dances and even a short haka as the first contingent of Ruby Princess workers left the troubled ship which had become their prison for the past month.
ELECTIVE SURGERY TO START NEXT WEEK
Elective surgery will restart next week, after the Anzac Day long weekend, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday.
CYCLING EVENTS SUSPENDED
Some of the region's most anticipated cycling events have been put on ice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cycling NSW announced the sanctioning for all cycling events would be suspended until further notice.
WHY DO MORE MEN DIE FROM COVID-19?
All over the world - in China, Italy, the United States and Australia - many more men than women are dying from COVID-19.
NSW STUDENTS BACK TO SCHOOL IN MAY
School students across NSW will start going back to school from May 11, one day a week initially while building up to a full-time return to the classroom from late July.
WHO WARNS WORST IS STILL AHEAD IN COVID-19 CRISIS
Just when the talk turns to countries easing lockdowns, as curves finally begin to flatten, in comes the World Health Organisation. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Trust us. The worst is yet ahead of us."
UPDATE ON LOCAL COMMUNITY RESPIRATORY CLINIC
A COVID-19 respiratory test clinic for Tamworth is signed, sealed and almost delivered - Aspen Medical, the company contracted to deal with the Ruby Princess cruise ship outbreak, are booked to provide infection control training to clinic staff this week.
AUSTRALIAN STUDY SHOWS PEOPLE MOST AT RISK OF COVID-19
Analysis of the first 6400 Australian coronavirus cases confirms the higher risk of death among people with diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA SET TO ENTER ADMINISTRATION
Virgin Australia is expected to enter voluntary administration after the airline's board held an emergency meeting of its international shareholders to find a way through the coronavirus downturn.
TRACKING ONGOING FOR COVID-19 IN LOCAL DISTRICT
In the latest update to 8pm on Sunday, only two new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Hunter New England Health district and neither of them were in Tamworth. However, authorities have not been able to trace the source of infection for a number of cases across the North West.
MARK COULTON IN FAVOUR OF APP
Parkes MP Mark Coulton has thrown his support behind the federal government's coronavirus tracking app, publicly disputing the view of New England MP Barnaby Joyce, who slammed the app.
FEARS OF AN OUTBREAK IN ARMIDALE
Almost 20 staff at a government department office in Armidale have been ordered into isolation after fears they were exposed to coronavirus at work.
CASH INJECTION FOR ROYAL FLYING DOCTOR'S SERVICE
The multi-million dollar aeromedical retrieval package to the Royal Flying Doctor Service will allow communities in rural and remote areas to have better access to health services, if there's an outbreak of COVID-19.
GUNNEDAH'S GREYHOUND CARNIVAL CUT
The club's biggest event on the program, the Chief Havoc Cup carnival, will not go ahead as scheduled this year, but there is plenty of other greyhound racing to look forward to.
REGIONS KEY TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY
Australia's regional areas will lead the nation in its economic recovery from the pandemic, premiers and ministers from across the country have declared.
NRL TEAM COULD BE BASED AT LAKE KEEPIT
There is a new push to ensure the Tamworth region hosts an NRL club should deputy premier John Barilaro's bold plan for the league get off the ground. He wants to see Rugby League continue with sides based in regional NSW, and he's got the backing of his Nationals' team mate Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson.
STATION WON'T LET ANZAC DAY GO UNMARKED
Events may have been cancelled for COVID-19, but Tamworth's 88.9FM is hoping to connect the community on the sacred day via a special broadcast. The commemoration segment will begin at 6am on Anzac Day and will feature the ode, the last post, one minute of silence and reveille.
AGED CARE INFECTIONS ARE 'CAUTIONARY TALE'
Health care and disability workers, teachers and those employed in prisons with even the mildest of symptoms have been urged to get a coronavirus test.
WORKING FROM HOME 'SHORTCUT'
A special tax 'shortcut' has been created for people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OUR MESSAGE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
While many Australians stay home to help stop the spread of COVID-19, our hard-working nurses, doctors, hospital cleaners, administrators and others continue their vitally important duties protecting and improving health and well-being of people in their communities.
NURSES RUSH TO MEET DEMAND
More than 17,000 nurses have rushed to sign up for online courses to enable them to work in intensive care units, and 3000 more have moved to re-register in the workforce as part of the response to coronavirus.
THE NURSE WHO RUNS TOWARDS DISASTER
Meet the clinical nurse educator from Tamworth hospital who commanded the set-up of the local screening clinic.
TRACKING COVID-19
An Aussie company says it has a solution for tracking COVID-19 outbreaks, and it's technology that has already been used in life-threatening situations across the globe for the better part of a decade.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: INNOVATION
Local businesses are working hard to keep their loyal customers well fed, caffeinated and coming back for more amid strict COVID-19 regulations.
BENEVOLENT AIMS FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL
The Benevolent Society is determined to not let the COVID-19 pandemic prevent it from helping locals, despite having to close the doors on all of its offices across Australia, including Tamworth and Armidale.
FIRST COVID-19 DEATH AT TAMWORTH HOSPITAL
Health authorities are continuing to try and identify how a woman in Tamworth contracted COVID-19 and died in hospital. The 58-year-old woman died in Tamworth hospital on Thursday, but testing only revealed she had coronavirus the day after she died.
BIN NIGHT ANTICS CONNECT LOCALS
A Tamworth childcare worker has become the latest star in a social media craze that is sweeping the nation.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC GLIMPSE AT LIFE IN ISOLATION
Everyone in the region is encouraged to snap a photo of themselves or their families at home during the pandemic to share their personalities with the town.
STUCK IN 'PARADISE' DURING COVID-19
What we thought would be one of the least stressful overseas holidays my husband, Dylan, and I have ever been on turned into a holiday from hell, despite being in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
BOOM TO BIKING BUSINESSES
Bike shops in Tamworth are busy dusting off cobwebs and repairing punctures as locals pull their steeds out of storage to get in some outdoor exercise amid the COVID-19 shutdown.
CAN KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL?
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a "roster system" would be introduced to schools from the third week of term 2, where students could return to class on some days.
GPs PRESIDENT: RURAL TOWNS AREN'T PREPARED
Without enough critical-care drugs and training procedures, rural communities are at even greater risk should COVID-19 take hold, a leading professional body says.
AVIATION INDUSTRY LIFELINE FOR REGIONAL CENTRES
Qantas and Virgin Australia services have limped along in the regional centres after they were hit hard by COVID-19 travel restrictions. Now, a new lifeline from the federal government will boost flights to Tamworth and Armidale.
BMX STATE SERIES ROUND POSTPONED
BMX NSW announced that the round, set to be held in Tamworth on May 17, had been postponed as a result of the coronavirus crisis and subsequent restrictions on mass gatherings.
CHANGING UP BIN NIGHT
If you've seen Freddie Mercury, drag queens, cartoon characters, gladiators and Ghostbusters on the kerb near your house - you are not seeing things.
MOREE TARGETED IN TEST BLITZ
Hunter New England Health (HNEH) said low rates of testing in Moree were concerning and it is working to understand the spread of the pandemic virus.
VIRTUAL HOSPITAL TRIAL
A virtual hospital trial being run by the University of New England means patients with COVID-19 can be monitored at an Intensive Care Unit level from the comfort of their own homes.
HEALTH DISTRICT IN THE CLEAR FOR TWO DAYS RUNNING
No new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Tamworth or in the Hunter New England Health (HNEH) district in the latest 24-hour testing period.
ONLINE LEARNING TO CONTINUE
Online learning will continue for NSW's school students in the first two weeks of term two, says premier Gladys Berejiklian.
MEET THE VETERAN RAISING MONEY FOR COVID-19
The 99-year-old army veteran wanted to raise £1000 by completing 100 laps of his garden by the end of the month when he turns 100. He's now close to raising 10,000 times that amount and completing the laps.
MEDICAL STUDENTS WILL STEP UP AND FIGHT
Final-year medical students in training have put up their hand to help if coronavirus cases overwhelm the region.
GLOBAL CASES TOP TWO MILLION
The world's confirmed tally of coronavirus cases now sits at more than two million.
JOBKEEPER: HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOUR WORKPLACE?
We've heard a lot about how the new JobKeeper lifeline affects employees of companies, but how employers are affected - and what they need to do - is less clear.
'PHANTOM MENU' TO SUPPORT BUSINESS
People from Tamworth and beyond can now let their favourite local businesses know they care about them thanks to the 'Phantom Menu'.
COACH KEEN TO PLAY
For years Scott Blanch had carried the load of not only playing a vital role on the field, but off the field as a coach. This year, he's eager to get back to only taking to the field as a player.
AFL WILL TAKE THE FIELD - AT SOME STAGE
The AFL North West's top boss is confident the region's players will take the field at some stage this season, despite the delay due to COVID-19.
CARE PACKAGES DELIVERED TO SHIP
A little bit of hope has arrived to lift the spirits of the crew on-board the Ruby Princess, thanks to a generous donation from the Illawarra community.
TAMWORTH TAXIS ADAPT
There when you need them, Tamworth taxi services remain on the streets, helping social distancing and keeping people in supply of essentials.
ONE OF THE RISKIEST ROLES ON THE FRONT LINE
Anaethetists are tasked with intubating the most critically ill COVID-19 patients, and at a crucial moment during the process, when their face hovers just centimetres from a patient's mouth, there is the highest risk of droplet exposure.
FITNESS FUN GOES ONLINE
Fitness Fun 4 Littlies is about getting kids outdoors, but with COVID-19 restrictions, the organisation has had to adapt and stray away from the original format.
AGED CARE WORKER 'MORTIFIED'
A western Sydney aged care worker who kept working while she was unwell before testing positive to COVID-19 did not display any symptoms of the virus during her last shift, the facility's chief executive says.
RUBY PRINCESS TO DEPART ON SUNDAY
The Ruby Princess is expected to depart from Port Kembla this Sunday, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told reporters this morning.
AGED SECTOR BEGS FOR RESCUE PACKAGE
Seven lead organisations in the aged care sector have gone to the federal government for a $1.296 billion injection to help keep homes and services open.
CALLS FOR UNI EXECS TO TAKE CUTS
In the wake of expected heavy university staff cuts, calls have been made for senior executives at all universities to take significant pay cuts. It is anticipated that up to 25,000 higher education employees are in the firing line as the funding normally drawn from overseas students grinds to a halt.
FLU JABS TO FREE UP HOSPITAL
Flu shots are more important than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to burden Tamworth Hospital. COVID-19 cases have remained stable at a dozen since March 30, a statistic that has confounded Hunter New England Health rural and regional executive director Susan Heyman.
BUSINESS CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP
The Tamworth Business Chamber will soon consider whether or not to offer free membership to local businesses during the coronavirus lockdown.
COPS 'SPAT ON'
A man has been charged with spitting on officers who went to investigate a reported noise complaint at his home near Tamworth.
TWO WEEKS WITH NO NEW CASES
Tamworth remained stable at 12 patients for the latest 24-hour testing period, a figure that hasn't changed in more than two weeks. The local health district also recorded no new cases.
HIGH HOPES FOR BASEBALL
The Tamworth region's baseball players may still be able to take the field in 2020 after the sport's governing body announced it was confident a winter season could go ahead.
WHO'S AT HIGHEST RISK FROM COVID-19?
Thousands of people with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes face a higher risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, research shows.
ACM SUSPENDS NON-DAILY PAPERS
Media company ACM, which owns the Leader said printing operations at four press facilities and the production of a number of non-daily newspapers will be suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic until at least June.
PHARMACIES SAY THANK YOU
Doctors will soon be able to prescribe medicines via email or fax, making it more convenient for patients to access medications from their pharmacists during the COVID-19 crisis.
WHERE CAN I GET TESTED?
Residents living in 12 NSW areas have been advised to get tested for COVID-19 if they feel unwell, regardless of whether they think they have been exposed.
HOW TASMANIA BECAME AN EPI-CENTRE
In just nine days Tasmania's North West Hospitals became the epi-centre of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COMPLACENCY COULD BECOME AN ENEMY
In Australia we're in a good place as far as numbers are concerned. Without wanting to diminish those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 over the last few weeks, in the wider context, we've been relatively fortunate, writes Gayle Tomlinson.
RECOVERED PATIENT WARNS COVID-19 IS NOT EASY TO OVERCOME
Grant Houldsworth is recovering from coronavirus and has a simple message: take social distancing seriously. He said he thought it would be easy to beat the virus but in reality, "it really kicked my butt", he said.
COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL IN LIMBO
The local economy could take a $50 million hit as the future of Tamworth Country Music Festival 2021 sits on a knife's edge.
TENANTS GIVEN LIFELINE
Locals struggling to pay their rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been given a lifeline by the state government.
RUBY PRINCESS DEATH TOLL GROWS
There have been no new cases of coronavirus across the New England North West but the health district's death toll has risen.
TICKETS ISSUED FOR NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL
A Tamworth man is one of several across the New England North West counting his losses after he was given a $1000 ticket for non-essential travel.
TESTING FOR ENTIRE CREW RULED OUT
More than 600 COVID-19 cases across Australia have now been linked to the ship which remains docked at Port Kembla. There are dozens of crew members still on board have tested positive to the virus.
TASMANIA IN TROUBLE
There will be more deaths from COVID-19 in coming days, Tasmania's premier Peter Gutwein has warned as he calls on the Commonwealth for medical help. Around 5000 people will be forced into isolation after two hospitals on the North West Coast were shut down.
CONFIDENCE IN BUSINESS ON THE SLIDE
Confidence in local companies was up across the New England on the back of recent rain, but now those gains have been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
HOLDING TOGETHER, KEEPING APART
The nature of coronavirus means we have to work together from a distance. It was this dichotomy that cartoonist David Pope was trying to encapsulate for his latest illustration.
ONLINE CHALLENGES FOR KIDS
Pick up your paintbrushes and pencils and dust off your drawing pad, because the Tamworth Regional Gallery is hosting online workshops and challenges over the Easter break.
THE RACE FOR A VACCINE
At most recent count, there was more than 100 potential candidates in the race to develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
UNKNOWN LOCAL COVID-19 CASES SOLVED
NSW Health has tracked down the source of every COVID-19 case in Tamworth, according to the latest statistics.
BANKSIA UPGRADE NOT ON THE BACK BURNER
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has committed to continuing the push for an upgrade for one of the region's key mental health facilities. He said the upgrade to Banksia Health Unit is a high priority, given the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on mental health.
PUPPY LOVE DURING PANDEMIC AND BEYOND
Dogs and cats across the country are "living their best life" as many of their humans stay home from school and work to stop the spread of COVID-19. For new additions to the family, this new way of life could throw up some tricky situations when the household begins to return to normal.
LOCALS FIND WORK IN TOMATO BUSINESS
Costa's Tomato Category in Guyra is open for business and on the hunt for local workers. In the past week, they've hired 11 new staff members from the area who've been hit with job losses.
INSOLVENCY RISK ON THE RISE
New data shows the risk of business insolvency in Tamworth is on the rise - and that was before the COVID-19 crisis hit.
LONGER WAIT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
Drought-affected Tamworth businesses will have to wait longer to access the Jobkeeper support scheme because they were already suffering before the COVID-19 crisis, the business chamber fears.
PAIR COP SECOND FINE FOR LEAVING HOME
Oxley police have slapped two men and a woman with $1000 fines for breaching warning orders to stay at home - the second fines for two of them.
DISTRICT RECORDS SECOND COVID-19 DEATH
There are no new cases of COVID-19 in Tamworth or across the New England North West but the district has recorded its second death on Thiursday.
GLIMMER OF HOPE AT WOOL AUCTION
After a huge drop in wool prices recently, the Australian wool market made a small recovery at this weeks auctions, offering a glimmer of hope.
PROTECTING THOSE IN CUSTODY
Recommendations for protecting prisoners include widespread screening for COVID-19, the immediate hospitalisation of any prisoner or detainee who has symptoms of the virus, and the limited release of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates at risk.
NO WORD ON WHO HAS 'OFFICALLY' RECOVERED
Recoveries are soaring in the Hunter New England Health (HNEH) area, with more than half of all patients in the district who contracted COVID-19 now free of the infection. However, NSW Health has not publicly released the locations of these people, including Tamworth cases.
UNIVERSITIES EXPECTING SURGE
Universities are expecting a surge in demand for places from the newly unemployed and those seeking to continue their studies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHILDBIRTH DURING CORONAVIRUS
Preparing to give birth is both physically and emotionally exhausting at the best of times - let alone in the midst of a global pandemic.
JOBKEEPER: SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS MADE
The federal government is rolling out a $130 billion JobKepper wage subsidy, but drought-affected farmers in the local area are concerned they might not be eligible. New England MP Barnaby Joyce confirmed some farmers may be given a lifeline.
CRUISE SHIP RAIDS
NSW Police raided the Ruby Princess docked at Port Kembla on Wednesday night, seizing the ship's black box and other evidence as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
HOW CORONAVIRUS KILLS
Professor Josh Davis is an infectious diseases physician and clinical researcher based at John Hunter Hospital. He spoke with an ACM journalist about the clinical progression of COVID-19.
RFS: USE ISOLATION TO GET PREPARED
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is encouraging people to use time at home during COVID-19 and the upcoming cooler months to prepare for the next bushfire danger period.
THUNDERBOLTS STAR HEADS HOME
AS the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc with sports across the globe, one of the Tamworth Thunderbolts' key stars, American import Quayshun Hawkins, has decided to return home.
EASTER SEAFOOD RUSH
The state government's restriction on travel this Easter long weekend has failed to dampen locals' hunger for traditional fresh seafood, with hundreds flocking to stock up in preparation for their Good Friday feasts.
JOYCE: QANTAS HERE TO STAY
Barnaby Joyce said the Qantas CEO Alan Joyce assured him services to Tamworth and Armidale are here to stay.
NO NEW INFECTIONS IN TAMWORTH
The Hunter New England Health district recorded six new cases, one of them a child, but Tamworth seems to have stalled the spread.
YOUR TAMWORTH GUIDE FOR EASTER
The Easter long weekend is going to look a little different this year - special regulations are allowing supermarkets and other businesses to operate on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Find out what's open and what's not.
VISA HOLDER THROWN LIFELINE
Chammika Weerasinghe moved to Australia from Sri Lanka one year ago and is on the 482 visa, and his family live here now too. He's managed to keep his job at a Gunnedah pub.
TAMWORTH COUPLE COMING HOME FROM PERU
After 23 days trapped in coronavirus lockdown in South America, Tamworth couple Sharon and Allan Stuart are coming home on a repatriation flight.
SPREAD HAS SLOWED
The Hunter has experienced only a small fraction of the coronavirus surge predicted in briefings to hospital staff two weeks ago.
BACKPACKERS STRANDED
Backpackers from overseas are struggling as their workplaces cut back on staff. With no work and nowhere to go, travellers are relying on generosity.
TOP COP: 'JUST STAY HOME'
Police have warned Easter parties, family gatherings and travelling to see loved ones this long weekend is banned, and anyone that flouts the rules risks a $1000 fine.
FUTURITY LOCKS DOWN SPONSOR
Regarded as the biggest and richest indoor sporting horse event in the southern hemisphere, the news of the new major sponsor comes as the National Cutting Horse Association prepares to run the 2020 event later in the year.
DENTAL REGISTER CREATED
As elective or non-urgent treatments are banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists across the region have united to make sure people can still get the urgent care they need.
FLIGHT RISK
Qantas flights from Tamworth to Sydney are in jeopardy as the airline mulls the future of the route in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and Armidale route has been grounded.
BOUNCEBACK TAMWORTH COMMITTEE
Councillor Glen Inglis said when Tamworth emerges from its COVID-19 lockdown it could be different. He called on Tamworth Regional Council to create a committee of community leaders to guide the city through the "recovery phase" after the end of the coronavirus threat.
STAYING IN TOUCH
One Tamworth couple, who have been married almost 63 years, are keeping in touch with a little community support.
NO NEW CASES BUT RECOVERIES RISING
The HNEH district recorded no new cases in the latest 24-hour testing period, but more than 110 people have recovered from the infection.
MORE FINES ISSUED
A woman and her passenger have been been hit with $1000 fines from Oxley police for being out without a reasonable excuse after she was warned earlier in the day.
WORST CASE SCENARIO REVEALED
An unmitigated countrywide outbreak of the coronavirus would have completely overwhelmed intensive care beds with a peak daily demand of 35,000 beds, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy revealed on Tuesday.
WORKING FROM HOME ALLOWANCE
Australians working from home because of the coronavirus outbreak will be able to claim a flat 80c an hour rate on their next tax return.
SUPERMARKETS TO OPEN OVER EASTER
Local supermarkets have been given the green light to operate on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR TERM TWO
Schools across the region are adjusting their systems to accommodate teaching and learning from a distance.
JOBKEEPER QUESTIONS ANSWERED
The federal government's wage subsidy scheme has been met with some confusion about how it will work and who is eligible.
TAFE OFFERING FREE SHORT COURSES
A suite of 21 fee-free TAFE NSW short courses are available online to assist anyone across the state who wants to upskill during the COVID-19 pandemic.
COUNCIL STIMULUS SCHEME
CouncillorS signed off on the COVID-19 relief scheme during an extraordinary meeting on Monday, which is designed to soften the blow of the coronavirus crisis on the city's residents and business.
HOSPITAL RESTRICTS VISITORS
Visiting restrictions have been placed on patients in local hospitals like Tamworth and Gunnedah as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALSO SUFFERING
Australians in their 30s are in intensive care with the coronavirus, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said on Monday, driving home the fact that "this is not just an old person 's disease".
ANOTHER DAY OF NO NEW CASES
The New England North West area recorded no new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to Sunday night.
RUBY PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP DOCKS
The ship has docked at Port Kembla, near Wollongong, where it will restock and all on board will endure a 10-day isolation period. 200 crew members have COVID-19 symptoms.
ART COMPETITION FOR STUDENTS
School students in the Liverpool Plains Shire are being encouraged to enter Liverpool Plains Shire Council's (LPSC) Art From The Inside competition during the school holidays.
MORE FINES IN THE NEW ENGLAND
Three more people have copped $1000 fines for breaching public health orders.
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR AGENTS
The real estate industry is putting safety first, but there's no reason to stop "business as usual".
FIRST COVID-19 DEATH IN DISTRICT
The coronavirus count is stable in the Tamworth region, but the local health district recorded its first death caused by the pandemic disease on Sunday.
POLICE INVESTIGATION
A criminal investigation will be launched to into how the cruise line operator Carnival Australia was allowed to disembark the Ruby Princess in Sydney.
CALL FOR COMMUNITY DONATIONS
The Cornerstone Community Kitchen, which serves up meals for hundreds of Tamworth locals, has had to shut it's doors. Instead, they're creating hampers and are calling for the community to donate non-perishable goods.
ENGINEER CREATES LIFE-SAVING PROTOTYPE
An engineer has prototyped a ventilator within days.
KEEPING CONNECTED
In an attempt to keep the electorate's senior citizens connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson is endeavouring to call every citizen over the age of 80.
PROTECTION FOR PARAMEDICS
Ambulance NSW will begin asking four questions to help keep paramedics and the public safe during call-outs.
QANTAS WEIGHING OPTIONS FOR LOCAL SERVICES
With flights between Tamworth and Sydney almost empty, the airline is considering combining the Tamworth and Armidale routes.
PRIME MINISTER: OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WILL COPE
The coronavirus infection rate is tracking in a way that will not overrun the country's health system, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
POSTCODES OF PATIENTS RELEASED
The number of COVID-19 cases in Tamworth hasn't changed since Monday last week, but for the first time, the postcodes of infected patients have been released to the public.
KEEPING SANE DURING COVID-19
Tips for coping with social distancing and isolation measures.
YOUR CHILDCARE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a package encouraging parents to send their children to childcare and keep working through the COVID-19 pandemic.
TAMWORTH TOURIST TRAPPED IN PERU
Sharon Stuart hopes the Commonwealth government will evacuate her from the country in the coming days.
LOCAL FINED FOR NOT HAVING 'REASONABLE EXCUSE'
A woman stopped for a random breath test has become the latest locally to be fined $1000 with breaching the state's strict public health orders.
FREE CHILDCARE
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has thrown a lifeline to struggling childcare businesses and parents by making the service free.
CRIME DROPS AND SECURITY IS UPPED
There's been a downturn in crime in the area recently but as businesses shut their doors, security companies are keeping busy.
HNEH DISTRICT PLANS
Critical coronavirus patients from across the North West and the Northern Tablelands will go to Tamworth Base Hospital.
TRADIES CAN PUSH ON
Businesses supplying goods to the region's trades have been given the green light to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNPAID PANDEMIC LEAVE
Australian workers will be able to access two weeks of unpaid pandemic leave.
TAMWORTH TESTING OFFICE
A local pathology company will open a new office to test for COVID-19 on Friday.
CSIRO STARTS TESTING VACCINE
Scientists have begun work on testing a potential vaccine for coronavirus.
NO NEW CASES IN TAMWORTH FOR THIRD DAY STRAIGHT
The source of infection for some of Tamworth's 12 confirmed cases is still under investigation.
NO NEW CASES IN TAMWORTH
The total number of cases in the HNEH district is up 10 patients, but Tamworth remains steady.
CONFUSED BY ALL THE COVID-19 INFORMATION?
Your questions answered by public health physician Dr David Durrheim from Hunter New England Health.
TAMWORTH WOOLIES CUTS HOURS
The Woolworths at Shopping World in Tamworth is becoming a 'priority trading hub'.
BOTTLE SHOP LIMITS
Most major bottle shops have brought in limits to prevent panic buying.
YOUTH WEEK GOES ONLINE
Tamworth Youth Week 2020 will be run through the council website and social media platforms.
GET THE FLU SHOT NOW
Australians are being told to get flu jab now to avoid disease double whammy amid COVID-19 pandemic.
GOLF CLUBS OPEN AGAIN
Golfers are rejoicing following the news that all golf courses in NSW are permitted to reopen.
GOLF CLUBS CLOSE
NSW government regulations force golf clubs across the state to shut down.
ONLINE GATHERING OVER BUSINESS AND BEER
Rawson Baker Advisors will host Social Isolation Beer and Info Session via Zoom for local businesses.
REGIONAL HOTELS SUFFERING
Hotels across Australia are facing job cuts as people cancel holidays right up until Christmas.
TAMWORTH LIBRARY CLICK AND COLLECT
Tamworth library has adapted to life in the shut down - they have taken programs online and created a 'click and collect' drive through for book borrowing.
COMMUNITY GROUP SAYS THANK YOU
Tamworth True has launched a Tamworth Says Thanks campaign to support workers and businesses around town.
EXEMPTION FOR TRUCK STOPS
Truck stops will continue operating throughout the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to a special exemption from the federal government.
NO NEW COVID-19 CASES FOR TAMWORTH IN LATEST UPDATE
No new cases of coronavirus were detected across the New England North West in the 24 hours to Monday night, while eight more were recorded in the HNEH district.
FINES FOR LEAVING HOME WITHOUT A 'REASONABLE EXCUSE'
Overnight a public health order was introduced by the NSW government to beef up the state's social distancing rules and encourage people to stay home.
NUMBERS COULD SHOW PROMISE
We are slowing the spread of COVID-19 in the Hunter New England region, but we cannot become complacent.
FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Local services are thrilled with the government's announcement that mental health providers in Australia will get $1.1 billion in funding.
COUNCIL RELIEF PACKAGE ON THE HORIZON
Tamworth councillors will convene to consider a draft COVID-19 relief package in an extraordinary meeting.
POLICE DOOR KNOCKING PATIENTS IN TAMWORTH
Local police have begun door knocking patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 as well as those ordered into self-isolation.
MORE COUNCIL CLOSURES ANNOUNCED
Camp grounds in the region and council offices are impacted in the latest round of closures.
POLICE PATROLS DURING PANDEMIC
More high-visibility patrols across the region have been launched to ensure locals are complying with social distancing rules.
BUSINESSES BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN TAMWORTH
Tamworth locals and businesses are donating free coffee and free food for emergency workers.
HNEH DISTRICT CASES HIT 200
Another 11 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Hunter New England, including one in Tamworth.
GATHERINGS CUT TO TWO PEOPLE
The government has reduced gatherings to no more than two people unless they are direct family or household members.
HNELHD CASES HIT 167
Another 25 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in Hunter New England.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ON COVID-19
How did we get here? How do we deal with it? and how does it affect me?
That's what you need to know and that's what we're looking at answering in this one-stop shop.
TAMWORTH CASES RISE TO NINE
The Tamworth region has recorded two new cases of coronavirus in the latest statistics released by NSW Health on Friday.
NSW GETS SECOND STIMULUS
NSW business and charity groups have welcomed the state government's latest stimulus measures aimed at keeping businesses afloat and supporting the vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic.
MEASURES RAMPED UP
Prime Minister Scott Morrison stopped well short of a nationwide lockdown but did announce that from midnight Saturday, states and territories will quarantine all arrivals in hotels for two weeks.
HAVING A BIT OF FUN
TWO neighbours are doing their bit to help spread humour throughout their street as the community practices self distancing and self-isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TRC SHUTS PLAYGROUNDS
Tamworth's playgrounds are silent, with the Council today locking up the city's play spaces to slow the spread of COVID-19.
STORES SHUT UP SHOP
It's a sad day for many business owners and franchisees around Tamworth and the wider New England who have had to lay off staff as closures continue.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Find out what businesses are still open.
PLAY EQUIPMENT BANS
Play equipment at close to 150 parks around the region are no longer allowed to be used.
DANCERS GO DIGITAL
When the first government measures to slow the spread of coronavirus were brought in, Kellie Singh knew she had to change how Tamworth City Dance Academy [TCDA] delivered classes.
CANCELLED EVENTS COST ECONOMY
The economy has been dealt an $18 million blow in cancelled Tamworth Regional Council events alone.
NSW TO ANNOUNCE 2ND STIMULUS
The NSW government is about to announce a second round of economic stimulus measures to help businesses as the number of coronavirus cases in the state tops 1000.
GROUP 4 DENIES ALLEGATIONS
Group 4 chairman Ray McCoy has been left "shattered" and incensed by what he claims is a baseless allegation centring on two rugby league clubs holding training sessions during the coronavirus epidemic.
PARKS SHUT DOWN
Numbers were looking promising for Copeton Dam and Lake Keepit over Easter but with holiday makers and non-essential travel banned as of midnight Thursday, their hopes of getting back on track after the extended drought and fires have been dashed.
A BATTLE TO KEEP DOORS OPEN
Last night Babette Hardman thought she'd be closing her doors. Today she's still back at the tools.
TAMWORTH TOPS THE REGION
New data reveals Tamworth has topped the region with seven diagnosed COVID-19 cases.
BREACHES COULD RESULT IN FINES
Police are reminding locals that anybody found breaching new social distancing rules could face a fine or even jail time.
CASES RISE AGAIN
Another 21 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Hunter New England Health district.
POLICE CALL ON COMMUNITY TO RALLY
The call comes as Hunter New England Health announced it would provide specific COVID-19 case numbers for each local government area.
NSW HEALTH TO BREAK DOWN CASES BY LOCAL GOVT AREA
NSW Health will provide specific COVID-19 case numbers for each local government area.
COL MURRAY BLASTS CORONAVIRUS COMPLACENCY
Mayor Col Murray blasted coronavirus complacency in Tamworth today, saying locals were putting themselves and others at risk of contracting the deadly COVID-19 if they didn't heed the call to self-isolate.
FUNERAL, HAIRCUT RESTRICTIONS EASED
The 30-minute restriction on haircuts has been lifted as the federal government tinkers with measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.
MIGRANTS FACE UNCERTAIN TIMES
Multiculturalism advocate Eddie Whitham has called on the Australian government to support migrants who are "stuck in a time warp" due to the coronavirus outbreak.
GYMS ADAPT
Indoor gyms and fitness centres have been forced to shut their doors as the Australian government tries to contain COVID-19 but some are adapting.
HNEH CASES PASS 100
Now 103 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Hunter New England Health (HNEH) district.
MARSHALL CONDEMNS HNEH
An angry Adam Marshall spoke out on Wednesday, after Hunter New England Health stopped providing him with updates on the coronavirus pandemic.
UNE MOVES INTO STAGE TWO
University of New England vice Chancellor, professor Brigid Heywood has said UNE was progressing to Stage 2 of its COVID-19 management plan from advice to limit physical interactions, and thin out on-campus attendance.
TAMWORTH TURNS INTO A GHOST TOWN
It was just after 3pm on a sunny Tuesday afternoon in the Tamworth CBD when Leader photographer Peter Hardin took to the streets.
ICONIC PUB CLOSES
One of Tamworth's most iconic pubs has had to close its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAN ALLEGEDLY CLAIMS TO HAVE CORONAVIRUS, COUGHS ON POLICE
Police will allege in court that the man claimed he had COVID-19 and intentionally coughed at the police officer when he was asked to submit to a breath test.
VIRGIN SUSPENDS FLIGHTS
Virgin Australia will suspend all its flights into Tamworth Airport from Friday night.
TRUCKIES HIT HIGH GEAR
The region's freight and logistics companies are preparing to serve the community for the long haul, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SHUTDOWN OF BUSINESSES EXTENDED
The government has tightened the shutdown further, closing food courts, open homes and beauty salons other than hairdressers from midnight on Wednesday.
CASE CONFIRMED IN TAMWORTH
At least one Tamworth couple are in self-isolation after Greg Butler contracted COVID-19 on the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney last week.
VISITORS CENTRE REMAINS OPEN
The Tamworth Visitors Information Centre will remain open but the dedicated volunteers who give their time to operate centre are taking a break due to health risks related to COVID-19.
TRC business and community director John Sommerland said council staff will ensure the centre remains open.
"We want to keep the centre open so we can provide information to visitors to the city,'' he said.
"We expect this is likely not to be tourist type information, but more so service information."
The closure of both the Nundle and Manilla visitor information outlets was announced last week after health concerns prompted volunteers to decide to step back for the time being. Visitor information in Barraba is provided by staff at council's office in Queen Street which remains open.
CASES CONFIRMED IN INVERELL
The two cases are the first confirmed instances of the virus recorded in the Northern Tablelands region.
MOTEL OFFERS ISOLATION SUITES
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to grip the region, some Tamworth motels are implementing measures to help increase business.
TOUGH TIMES FOR FARMER
In six months, Kentucky farmer Margaret Yarnold has survived Australia's worst drought, a water crisis and lost a home to a deadly bushfire. Joining an hour-long unemployment queue outside Tamworth Centrelink this morning was just another trial.
FREE TOILET PAPER WITH A HOT MEAL
A hot meal will be accompanied by an even hotter commodity for Meals on Wheels clients, after Woolworths donated packs of toilet paper for the charity to deliver.
CRUISE SHIP CASES ACCOUNT FOR 20 CONFIRMED IN 24 HOURS
Hunter New England Health has announced a surge of 25 new confirmed COVID-19 cases.
COMMUNITY HOUR EXTENDED TO EMERGENCY AND HEALTH WORKERS
Coles is dedicating two community hour shopping periods per week to emergency services and healthcare workers, who are essential to protecting the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ARE YOU OPEN FOR BUSINESS?
With so many changes happening, The Northern Daily Leader has created a form where businesses can enter their details to inform NDL readers of how owners and managers are now running their stores and shops.
HOSPITAL SURGERIES POSTPONED
Hunter New England Health has announced it will postpone non-urgent elective surgeries to allow for staff training and provide more capacity to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
PARLIAMENT PASSES VIRUS PACKAGES
A series of bills was approved on Monday night, with two packages worth $17.6 billion and $66 billion at the heart of the Morrison government's response.
CASES RISE IN HNELHD
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Hunter has reached 47, as Hunter New England Health postpones non-urgent surgeries to prepare for an expected surge in cases.
COVID-19 TEST CLINIC ON THE CARDS
A COVID-19 test clinic could be a week to 10-days from set-up in Tamworth.
GREYHOUND TRACKS TO CLOSE
Tamworth Greyhound Racing Club president Robert Munn said he had a "gut feeling" that the track could be shut down as the sport battles to continue racing through the coronavirus crisis.
POLICE STEP UP SUPERMARKET PATROLS
OXLEY police have stepped up patrols of supermarkets and other "essential" services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COUPLE TRAPPED IN PERU
It was meant to be the tourism adventure of a lifetime. But when Tamworth resident Sharon Stuart learned Peru planned to shut all borders and lock down the country with no warning to stop COVID-19, it became a nightmare.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY LAUNCHED
Tamworth Regional Council have created a "quick stop shop" for locals to find out about the opening hours and operations at businesses around town.
PUBS CALL LAST DRINKS
Tamworth customers snuck in for a final drink on Monday as the city's pub scene prepared to enact a national ban on sit-down custom.
AELEC, DOME, POOLS CLOSE
Tamworth Regional Council pools have closed after stricter measures were brought in to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
PUBS AND CLUBS CLOSED
Australia's clubs, pubs and restaurants are just some of the venues that have been ordered to close from midday Monday.
LIBRARY CLOSURES
Three libraries in the Tamworth Local Government Area will close.
BRACING FOR SHUTDOWN AS MORE CASES CONFIRMED
Another 12 people have been diagnosed with coronavirus [covid-19] at the weekend in the Hunter New England Health district, bringing the total to 30. The news comes as Premier Glady Berejiklian announced today that NSW would go into "comprehensive shutdown" of non-essential services.
BUSINESS GRANTS DOUBLED
As businesses around the country face drastic reductions in trade and the likelihood of a forced shutdown, the government has substantially beefed up the suite of grants and tax breaks it announced just two weeks ago.
EVENT CANCELLATIONS
A large number of events have been cancelled or postponed after the Australian government introduced measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.
FATHER IN SECRET SELF-ISOLATION
Sara Crowe's family home in Tamworth seems unremarkable, her little boys Koby and Cooper FaceTime their father Rick on his business trip in the US. Except Rick isn't in the US, he's self-isolated in the room next door.
HEARINGS DELAYED DUE TO COVID-19
Dates for dozens of local court cases in Tamworth and Armidale have been rescheduled as the justice system grapples with the health risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
ONLINE HUB BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE
When Jody Ekert set up Tamworth True, she had no idea the Facebook group would take on a life of its own.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT DOUBLED
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced the effective doubling of the dole and a big increase in benefits, boosting benefits by $225 a week.
MORE CASES CONFIRMED IN HNEHD
An additional eight people have been diagnosed in the region as local health officials announce there could already be some "low level spread" in the community.
WHAT FOUR SQUARE METRES LOOKS LIKE
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday that venues will only be able to let in one person per four square metres.
STIMULUS TO PROTECT BUSINESSES
The federal government will tip another $66 billion into Australian small and medium-sized businesses to help them keep paying staff as the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak sweep through the economy.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
AS the Coronavirus pandemic challenges the economy, several local businesses are using lateral thinking to serve the community and ensure healthy practices.
BUSINESSES GET INVENTIVE
Tamworth venues are "reinventing" wedding celebrations as a rapidly changing coronavirus situation forces them to think outside the box ... literally.
HNEH CASES SPIKE
Five more people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the Hunter New England Health (HNEH) district
SUPPORT LOCAL
Forum 6 manager Grant Lee said it was a crucial time for not only the cinemas but all small businesses in Tamworth.
LESS COUNCIL MEETINGS?
Council meetings could be halved for the next three months to limit the spread of coronavirus [covid-19].
NEW 4-SQUARE METRE RULE
Restaurants, bars, pubs and other venues are now being forced to comply with an indoor limit of one person for every four square metres.
SUPPORT GROUP SET UP
Emma Hall decided to start a Facebook group called the Tamworth isolation and grocery support group.
The community is built on helping each other out. People who need help buying groceries or those who want to lend a hand are encouraged join the group.
MASS WILL CONTINUE IN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Anyone with flu-like symptoms and those who are more at risk from coronavirus are being urged not to attend church, as the Catholic Diocese of Armidale attempts to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
HUGE LOSSES FOR CATERING BUSINESS
A catering service in Tamworth estimates a loss of $400,000 in business and has been forced to slash casual staff as tighter restrictions are implemented to combat the coronavirus crisis.
ARMIDALE TO SYDNEY SERVICE GOES
REGIONAL Express [Rex] is the latest airline to take a hit amid coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic travel concerns.
BUTCHERY SALES SURGE
Customers at one butchery are buying 8-10 kilograms of meat on average while another has had to shut down its online store because demand was too high.
IT'S TIME FOR PEOPLE PINCHING LOO PAPER TO STOP
Less than six months ago, we saw the absolute best of the true blue Aussie spirit as bushfires ravaged the nation. Fast forward to the coronavirus crisis and we're seeing the worst.
TWO MORE CASES CONFIRMED IN HNELHD
Hunter New England Health confirmed on Thursday afternoon that two new patients had contracted the COVID-19 but the number of people presenting to Gunnedah and Tamworth hospitals for testing for COVID-19 isn't high
TAMWORTH CUP RESCHEDULED
The coronavirus epidemic has hit Tamworth greyhound racing hard, with crowds shut out of meetings.
GOVT CLOSES BORDERS
All non-citizens and residents will be banned from coming to Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Thursday.
QANTAS FLIGHTS SLASHED
Qantas has taken a knife to its regional flight services from Tamworth. Return flights from Sydney have been drastically slashed and the hyped new Brisbane to Tamworth service cut altogether.
NEW MEASURES AT COUNCIL
Tamworth Regional Council has introduced tougher measures to limit any potential spread of the coronavirus.
SELF ISOLATION VIOLATION
In Tamworth, a member of the community who wished to remain anonymous said he tried to report a known self-quarantine breach and was turned away from both the Police Assistance Line and National Coronavirus [covid-19] Helpline.
FOUR NEW CASES IN HUNTER NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT
Another four people have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD).
SELF-ISOLATION - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
A lot of questions are being raised around self-isolation. Who needs to do it? Where can I do it? Can I go outside? The Australian government has provided this guide to answer all your questions.
CEO CALLS FOR CALM
The boss of the nation's biggest supermarket chain has urged its customers not to buy more groceries than they need, assuring skittish shoppers "we do not have a supply issue".
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Businesses are being encouraged to explore avenues to limit the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
DELIVERY CURFEW REMOVED
A blanket exemption from delivery curfews has been applied to supermarkets across the city.
SCHOOLS TO REMAIN OPEN...FOR NOW
Schools will remain open for the foreseeable future amid the coronavirus crisis with governments heeding advice that closing them would have dire consequences.
INDOOR GATHERINGS OF 100 OR MORE BANNED
The government has banned inside gatherings of 100 people or more, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday.
MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIES
Health advocates are warning that increased isolation due to coronavirus concerns may result in a spate of mental health problems.
BORDER TO REMAIN OPEN
Australia will not close its borders in the wake of the coronavirus, the head of Australian Border Force has said.
CASES CONFIRMED IN HNELHD
The total number of cases of COVID-19 in the Hunter New England sits at seven as of Tuesday.
If you know of any other events being cancelled, please send the information through to mail@northerndailyleader.com.au.
ICU BEDS IN TAMWORTH
There are just 12 Intensive Care Unit beds at Tamworth Hospital but Hunter New England Health chief executive Susan Heyman said the hospital is doing everything it can to increase bed capacity and staff.
DELIVERY CURFEWS
Panic buyers have forced Tamworth Regional Council to consider a lift on delivery curfews to the supermarket.
FAQS ON CORONAVIRUS
Dr Lisa Sedger and Professor Michael Wallach - both from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Technology, Sydney - shed light on everything from 'Can you get it twice?' to 'How long after you've recovered can you go back to your normal life?' and 'How far off is a vaccine?'
COUNCIL-RELATED OPERATIONS
A number of council-related activities and operations have been affected by the risks surrounding coronavirus.
Q&A WITH A HEALTH EXPERT
Hunter New England Health's director of health protection, Dr David Durrheim, spoke to Australian Community Media about the virus and what the community can do to limit its spread.
CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR ORGANISERS
Tamworth Regional Council events manager Barry Harley says committees face a "real challenge" over the next 12 months.
SANITISERS STOLEN
The Tamworth Netball Association (TNA) has been left "cranky" after complimentary hand sanitiser was stolen at Monday night's games.
DISABLED, ELDERLY ACCESS TO SUPERMARKETS
Following in the footsteps of Woolworths, Coles will introduce an elderly and disabled hour from Wednesday.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IN SELF-ISOLATION
Australians who have tested positive to COVID-19 have been advised to self-isolate at home.
