Byron Covid case: Unvaccinated worker causes backpackers lockdown
Health authorities have revealed the source of a Byron Bay hostel lockdown as they test more than 80 guests and staff for Covid-19. See the photo gallery.
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Health authorities say the person who sparked a lockdown at a Byron Bay hostel was an unvaccinated staff member who lived on the premises.
Northern NSW Local Health District chief executive Wayne Jones said the health district was working closely with Aquarius Backpackers after the staff member tested positive for Covid-19.
More than 80 people have been identified as contacts of the worker and the venue has been placed into a snap lockdown.
NSW Health staff were at the venue on Thursday along with police.
Mr Jones said 81 current guests and on-site staff were subject to a “stop and stay order”.
“(This) restricts them from exiting the premises for 48 hours while contact tracing investigations are under way,” Mr Jones said.
He said most of the people subject to the lockdown were hostel guests.
The health authority is arranging on-site Covid-19 testing and is assessing any requirements for ongoing isolation arrangements.
Mr Jones said the health district would also arrange vaccination for any eligible contacts if required.
“The health district is working with other agencies, such as NSW Police, to support the guests and staff with food supplies and other essential items,” Mr Jones said.
“We continue to urge residents and visitors to our region to get tested immediately if they have even the mildest of symptoms.
“High rates of testing are critical to detecting transmission and prevent further spread of Covid-19 in the community.”
Two other cases of covid-19 were reported for Northern NSW to 8pm on November 24.
One was located in the Casino area of Richmond Valley, and is linked to an existing case.
The other case is located in the Ballina area and is a household contact of an existing case.
Tweed Byron Police District officer Detective Chief Inspector Matt Kehoe said an operation to contain a possible Covid outbreak was not expected to hinder Schoolies celebrations.
He also said he did not believe any schoolies were staying at Aquarius when the incident started.
Schoolies started to arrive to Byron Bay this week, with a scaled-down police operation set to begin on December 2.
“We have put a lot of planning in regards to these types of incidents between health and police and we are very comfortable with the planning we’ve put in place,” Inspector Kehoe said.
“This planning will be assessed constantly but at this stage we will roll with the numbers that we have planned.
“The Aquarius matter has been managed by Health and we are supporting them.
“We are ensuring the persons within there are isolating.”
Inspector Kehoe said officers were helping NSW Health test and vaccinate people inside the backpackers.
He said a team of close contact tracers was also working at the property and police would remain at the site for the next seven days.
He said health authorities would ultimately decide how long the venue remained in lockdown.
Karen Martin, owner of Byron Bay’s Bookroom, donated a box of books for guests at the Aquarius to enjoy during the lockdown.
“I have two kids in Melbourne that have been in lockdown for a record number of days, and it’s hard to be in lockdown, and these kids haven’t had a chance to get anything, so we just donated some books for them,” she said.
“The Byron community comes together in times like this.
“I don’t know who the people staying here are, but we have close ties with Aquarius, we have friends who work here, and we wish them the best.”
The QML drive-through Covid-19 testing clinic at Cavanbah Sports Ground, Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay, will be operating throughout the weekend:
- Friday November 26, 9am to 4pm.
- Saturday November 27, 9am to 2pm.
- Sunday November 28, 9am to 2pm.
Click here to find your nearest clinic .
If you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccination, you can find your closest clinic and make a booking from the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.
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