Bondi hostel avoids second lengthy Covid lockdown

Backpackers at a Bondi Beach hostel have finally been offered some positive news from NSW Health officials.

Noah’s backpackers in Bondi has been cleared by health officials after the hostel was thown into a snap Covid lockdown when a resident tested positive.

Roughly 50 people inside the building have been tested and cleared by NSW Health.

One person who tested positive has been taken off site.

Police established a containment area around the hostel on Thursday afternoon, with no one allowed to leave as health officials conducted testing.

The same hostel was involved in a major outbreak in April of last year, with residents criticised at the time for not taking isolation rules seriously.

Noah's Backpackers in Bondi went into a snap lockdown on Thursday afternoon. Picture: Rohan Kelly

The near-miss came as NSW recorded 420 new cases of the virus on Thursday, with fears the summer party season could drive an escalation in transmission.

The state has recorded 42 cases of the Omicron variant.

A number of cases have also been recorded in Byron Bay, which also has a big number of backpackers.