Byron Bay and Kyogle have escaped a lockdown despite five cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Rivers region.
It comes after lockdowns were introduced or extended for 18 other local government areas across the state due to outbreaks.
Two additional cases were confirmed in the Kyogle area overnight, both close contacts of two previously announced cases in the shire.
There is still one positive case in the Byron area.
Businesses look for leniency
Meanwhile, Business New South Wales said many businesses would struggle to meet the state government's mandate for workers to be fully vaccinated by October 11.
Once the state hits the 70 per cent vaccination target, only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to enter or work in many businesses.
Regional manager Jane Laverty said it would mean businesses could not operate normally.
"There's a level of concern about how they will staff up their businesses," she said.
"They're saying the staff may have one vax but probably not two in that period of time.
"[We're] looking for some leniency here."
The CEO of Tweed Heads services club Twin Towns, Rob Smith, said only a third of his current staff had received both doses of a vaccine.
He also said many customers would be unable to meet the double-vaccination requirements to enter the facility.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said a more suitable approach would be to demand workers to have had their first jab by October 11 and to prove they had an appointment booked to receive their second.
She said her concerns were echoed by other regional MPs in a meeting with Deputy Premier John Barilaro yesterday.
"That was the message we were giving to the Deputy Premier, which he took on board. He said, of course, he would take it into Cabinet or crisis cabinet," Ms Saffin said.
Byron shire deputy mayor Sarah Ndiaye said the challenge would be even greater for businesses and areas with younger employees and residents who were not eligible to join vaccine waiting lists until later in the rollout.
"I just don't see how this deadline could be met, and there are repercussions for our local businesses and people who need to pay their rent, support their kids," she said.
Sewage highlights COVID risk for Grafton
There are also calls for Grafton residents to come out in force for COVID testing, after fragments of the virus were detected at the South Grafton Sewage Treatment Plant for the third time in seven days.
The Northern NSW Local Health District's acting chief executive, Lynne Weir, said it was a strong indication that someone in the region had an undetected case of COVID.
'Excellent' response from health workers
Today is the deadline for NSW healthcare workers to have had at least one jab of a COVID vaccine.
Ms Weir said more than 92 per cent of workers in the Northern NSW health district have had their first dose, which she described as "excellent".
She said some of the 8 per cent who remained unvaccinated included casuals, people on long-term leave, and people who had been away but were booked for their first shot soon.
However, Ms Weir said there was a contingent of people who were opposed to getting vaccinated.
"They'll go on leave as of today and then they'll have to consider whether they continue to work for us or whether they'll be vaccinated," she said.
