Second venue announced after Byron Bay nightclub listed among new Covid exposure sites as Schoolies descend to coastal town

Another venue of concern has been announced after a person with Covid attended a Byron Bay nightclub as thousands of schoolies hit town.

NSW Health officials have announced a second venue of concern in Byron Bay after a positive case of Covid-19 visited a popular nightclub four nights last week.

The Coorabell Hall is the second venue announced after the nightclub alert earlier today. Authorities say those at the venue are classified as a close contact and must get tested and isolate.

Thousands of NSW schoolies have descended on the coastal town for a second week, prompting the urgent warnings from health officials to get tested for the virus.

NEW venue of concern.

Anyone who was at Coorabell Hall, 565 Coolamon Scenic Drive, on Saturday 4 December from 4pm onwards is classified as a close contact and must get tested and isolate.

Details: https://t.co/NKl8ZbHC3Dpic.twitter.com/5UpvKNtugd

— Northern NSW Local Health District (@NNSWLHD) December 9, 2021

A reveller with Covid-19 visited Woody’s Surf Shack on November 30 and December 1 to 4 for multiple hours each night.

It comes after the popular Beach Hotel was also hit with a Covid scare last week.

Woody's Surf Shack. Photo from the venue's website.

School leavers from Victoria and NSW descended on Byron Bay from November 27, with warnings from health authorities to stay safe.

Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Wayne Jones said there were plans in place to stop the spread.

“What I do ask to schoolies is for everyone to be responsible, to come to Byron, have fun, enjoy the celebration but be responsible,” Mr Jones said.

NSW Health has revealed a further eight new cases of the Omicron variant were found in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 42.

None of NSW’s Omicron cases have been admitted to hospital.

Dozens of patrons at a Sydney venue have also been warned of another possible superspreading event with up to 44 people contracting Covid-19 after a trivia night at Petersham’s Oxford Tavern last Tuesday.

The Oxford Tavern in Petersham was declared a hotspot after more than 40 people who attended tested positive for Covid. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Sydney’s Local Health District urged anyone who attended to get tested and isolate until results are received.

“If you have not been fully vaccinated, please remain in isolation until December 12, and have another test on this date,” a statement read.

“If you are fully vaccinated, you can come out of isolation if you’ve had a negative test on or after December 6, but please have another test on December 12.

It is not known whether anyone infected at the superspreading event has the Omnicron variant.

There are now 151 infected people in hospital across the state with 25 in intensive care.

A notice of the closure pictured on the wall at the Oxford Tavern in Petersham. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

A total of 84,883 tests were recorded on Wednesday and 93 per cent of people aged 16 and above are fully vaccinated.

The Petersham spreading event follows a passenger outbreak on board a weekend party boat cruise on Sydney Harbour.

At least two of those infected are believed to have the Omicron strain of the virus.

More than 140 others who were on board the boat have been told to also get tested and isolate.