The man who sparked the Byron Bay lockdown is under police investigation

The man who sparked the Byron Bay Covid lockdown is under police investigation, following claims he did not use QR codes and travelled around town knowing he was sick.

A Sydney father-of-two who plunged Byron Bay into lockdown after travelling north while positive with Covid is under investigation by police.

Zoran Radovanovic, 52, and his two teenage children travelled to the holiday destination from their Rose Bay home late last month, but he is now in Lismore Base Hospital being treated for the virus.

His two children have also tested positive for the virus.

Byron Bay, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina local government areas were thrown into a week-long lockdown as a direct result of this case.

A semi-deserted Jonson St, the main commercial area in Byron Bay, on Tuesday.

Police are believed to have initially been told that Mr Radovanovic had an exemption to be in town to look at real estate.

But The Daily Telegraph understands once NSW Health have a full list of his movements, officers will ramp up investigations into any alleged breaches.

Byron Mayor Michael Lyon said the traveller’s actions indicated he did not take the pandemic seriously.

“Certainly, his actions are indicating he didn’t take it (Covid) seriously,” he said.

“He didn’t check into QR codes, he was infectious and sick for a number of days and aware of it, and it wasn’t until he was really sick that we became aware of it.

“His children also had symptoms and likely had Covid.”

Mr Lyon said he hoped the man was charged and not let off with a fine.

“As I understand, this bloke may be charged. Certainly, it’s justified in this case. People are frustrated, outraged, it’s causing economic hardship, we’ve had some big impacts because of lockdown and other areas because of tourism. This is a hella blow.”

>any businesses decided to close altogether on the first day of the Northern Rivers lockdown on Tuesday.

Local business McTavish Surfboards representative Geoff Morgan said harsher penalties needed to be introduced to deter people from flouting Covid restrictions given the impact on the wider community.

“It’s amazing to me that one person travel to Byron, affecting local towns and communities along the way, travel around while knowingly spreading the virus (and) there are no consequences for these people,” he said.

“They are going to continue to do whatever they like, close down businesses, close down communities, with little regard.

“Why isn’t there a firm and clear law for people who are threatening people’s livelihoods, and worse, their lives?”