Border bubble in tatters after Covid patient travels through northern NSW from Sydney

A northern NSW MP has called for police to ‘throw the book’ at a Covid-infected traveller from Sydney who visited Byron Bay but allegedly refused to wear a mask or check in at venues, ultimately forcing the region into lockdown.

Queensland’s border bubble with northern NSW has descended into chaos after a Sydney man travelled to Byron Bay while infected with the coronavirus.

Four regions in the NSW Northern Rivers have been plunged into a week-long lockdown after the man, aged in his 50s, roamed across northern NSW for several days while infected with Covid-19.

His movements have already had massive ramifications for the border bubble, with residents of Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina Shire local government areas now under stay-at-home orders for seven days.

Reports he had refused to wear a mask, scan in at venues or cooperate with authorities have infuriated the region’s political leaders, including the Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon and the Tweed’s Federal MP for Richmond, Justine Elliott.

Speaking on ABC Radio on Tuesday, Ms Elliott said police should “throw the book” at the man, who is now in hospital.

“It’s disgusting,” she said.

“I hope police throw the book at this person.”

On Monday night, the Tweed Shire remained free of the new orders and Queensland had not changed entry restrictions, but Queensland Police are anxiously monitoring the situation in northern NSW.

There were 283 new Covid cases in NSW on Monday with Tamworth joining the list of lockdowns after a Covid-positive woman travelled to the country music capital from Newcastle.

Changes to Queensland’s border bubble set-up are likely to be announced on Tuesday after NSW Health ruled no one was allowed to enter the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina shires “without a reasonable excuse to do so”.

Questions are also being asked as to why the Sydney man, who is now in hospital, had left the Harbour City lockdown to travel to Byron Bay, which has been largely Covid-free throughout the pandemic.

Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman from Gold Coast Police said officers were ready to act on advice from the chief health officer if the situation in northern NSW deteriorated.

“We’re constantly reviewing the situation in NSW,” he said. “We’re doing contingency plans all the time.”

Health officials from both Queensland and NSW are monitoring the situation, with NSW authorities calling for increased testing numbers in the Byron Bay area to determine whether the man has spread the virus through the community.

The creation of the border bubble last year initially only included the Gold Coast and Tweed Shire, but many workers from South East Queensland regularly travel into the Byron and Lismore areas.