Queensland Premier threatens harder border restrictions after Covid case in Byron Bay

The border bubble between Queensland and New South Wales is in tatters after Byron Bay, Lismore and Ballina were plunged into a snap seven-day lockdown.

The border bubble travel zone is in tatters with northern NSW plunged into a snap seven-day lockdown after a Covid-19-infected traveller roamed from Sydney to Byron Bay.

Byron Bay, Lismore and Ballina will enter lockdown at 6pm on Monday night while the Tweed Shire at this stage remains unaffected.

The lockdown is due to end at 12.01am next Tuesday, August 17.

Everyone who lives in the local government areas or anyone who has been there since July 31 will be subject to the same rules as those living in Greater Sydney and the other locked down areas in regional NSW.

“We understand this is a difficult time for the community and appreciate their ongoing patience and co-operation,” NSW Health said in a statement on Monday evening.

“We are asking people not to seek exceptions to the rules, but to ensure they comply with them so we do not see further cases of COVID-19 in the community.”

Police and health officials on both sides of the border are scrambling to determine what the lockdown means for the border bubble, but thousands of commuters who travel between the two states are likely to be affected.

Earlier, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk threatened to erect a ring of steel around Queensland as the NSW Delta outbreak moves closer to the border.

Among NSW’s 283 new Covid cases on Monday was a Sydney man who travelled to Byron Bay while infected.

There are reports he had also been on the Gold Coast, which Queensland’s health authorities are investigating.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has threatened tougher restrictions along the Queensland and NSW border. Picture: Sarah Marshall

The man, aged in his 50s, was infectious in northern NSW for several days and is now recovering at Lismore Base Hospital.

Meanwhile, about 200km from the Queensland border, the regional NSW town of Armidale was plunged into a week-long lockdown after two new infections. Tamworth has also become a restricted area.

Ms Palaszczuk today said Queensland authorities would not hesitate on going harder on border restrictions if needed, adding “we’re very concerned at the moment”.

“We are absolutely concerned about what is happening in NSW,” she said.

“The further north the virus travels is alarming for us, so we’ll be watching that incredibly carefully.

There are concerns the NSW Delta outbreak is threatening to cross the border into Queensland. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“We already have those border patrols in place at present, but if we have to go harder, we will.”

The movements of the Byron Bay case could also have ramifications for the border bubble with Queensland Police anxiously monitoring the situation in northern NSW.

Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman from Gold Coast Police said there were no immediate plans to change the border travel system, but officers were ready to move 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.”