Two new cases in Northern NSW as Byron Bay comes out of lockdown

A new COVID-19 infection has been confirmed in Byron Bay as the northern New South Wales region and neighbouring Tweed Shire come out of lockdown.

The Northern NSW Local Health District on Tuesday night confirmed two new cases, one in Byron and the other about 60km west in Kyogle.

Health authorities are still investigating how both people became infected and say they were both infectious while in the community.

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Contact tracers are working to uncover any possible exposures.

"We are urging people right across our District to come forward for testing at the first sign of any COVID-19 symptoms," Northern NSW Local Health District posted to Facebook, promising to provide more information as soon as possible.

Tweed and Byron Shires were released from lockdown at midnight, six hours after Muswellbrook and Port Macquarie were plunged back in.

Earlier on Tuesday, NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Marianne Gale flagged the lockdown of the new regions.

"In all of those areas, we have had an increase in local cases and people who have been infectious in the community, so we are currently looking carefully at those situations and we'll be providing recommendations," she said.

Kempsey's stay-at-home order was lifted on schedule at midnight — though it may be re-imposed as new information about health risks are reported.