Concerns of a COVID-19 outbreak in Byron Bay are growing with NSW Health officials adding a gym and a pub among several new exposure sites within the coastal region.
NSW recorded one new case of COVID-19 on Wednesday. The case became known after 8pm and will be included in Thursday’s numbers.
The new case was a man in his 20s who attended the Byron Beach Hotel with three of his friends, the same venue as a hen’s party where positive cases from Queensland were recorded.
On Wednesday afternoon, the annual Bluesfest musical festival was cancelled for a second straight year due to COVID-19 concerns.
Overnight, health officials added a handful of venues they consider high risk. The first is the Surfit 24/7 Epiq Gym at 5 Snapper Drive, Lennox Head on Sunday, March 28 between 6am and 11am.
The second is the Park Hotel/Motel at 223 Broken Heads Road, Suffolk Park on Sunday, March 28 between 1pm and 2pm.
“Anyone who attended the following new venues must immediately get tested and self‑isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health,” a NSW Health statement read.
NSW Health also added several venues to a list of sites where anyone who attended between the hours indicated is considered a casual contact.
The first venue is Suffolk Park Bakery at 2 Clifford St, Suffolk Park on Saturday, March 27 between 11.15am and 11.40am.
Other venues are retail shops or grocery stores, but the time window for all is Saturday, March 28 between 12pm and 4pm:
- Black sheep
- Quiksilver Byron Bay
- Surf, Dive & Ski
- Tiger Lily Byron Bay
- Kivari Boutique Byron Bay
- Arnhem Clothing
- Spell Designs
- The Cellar
- Aldi
- Boards in the Bay, 12 Lawson Street
- Byron Bay Central Pharmacy
- Main Street Burger Bar
- Surf, Dive & Ski, 2/14 Jonson Street
- Ghanda, 3/8 Lawson Street
“Anyone who attended the venues at the times listed is a casual contact who must get tested immediately and self-isolate until a negative result is received,” NSW Health said.
“Please continue to monitor for symptoms and if they appear, isolate and get tested again.”