As city locks down, this is how they’ll be socially distancing in Byron Bay
There are fears that the emerging coronavirus outbreak in Brisbane has spread to a NSW town due to host thousands of revellers for a music festival in the coming days.
No new COVID-19 cases have been detected in NSW but Gladys Berejiklian is bracing for some to emerge after two infected people visited the northern tourist haven of Byron Bay.
“We hope that we do not have any cases arise in NSW but I would not be surprised if we did, so we must brace ourselves,” Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday.
NSW is on high alert for new cases after a number of venues in Byron Bay were visited by two infected women from Queensland just days before the beach resort town is due to host Bluesfest over the Easter long weekend.
Up to 16,000 people are expected through the festival gates each day.
Greater Brisbane has begun a three-day lockdown after a coronavirus cluster grew to seven cases, sparking fears of significant community transmission.
“We are expecting more cases [linked to] Queensland and hopefully most of those cases will be people in isolation or although we have to assume this is an evolving situation,” Berejiklian said.
You might like
Anyone who had been to Queensland since March 20 needed to comply with the lockdown rules there.
The state’s borders are still open but “if cases are identified in NSW, we will have to respond. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that”, she said.
She is urging people in NSW to postpone plans to travel to Queensland for the Easter break.
And she’s urging everyone in NSW to check in at every venue, socially distance and sanitise hands.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of being COVID-safe,” Berejiklian said.
Anyone who has even mild symptoms should get tested and stay home and isolate until further advice.
Stay informed, daily
“And most importantly, if you’ve attended any of the venues NSW Health has identified, get tested, stay home and isolate for the full 14 days,” the premier said.
Infected travellers visited the Byron Beach Hotel, the Mokha Cafe, The Farm at Ewingsdale the Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park public toilets between March 26 and 28.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard had a simple message for anyone who’d visited the Greater Brisbane region and planned to attend the festival.
“Don’t. Don’t come,” he said.
Organisers are in the process of working out ticket refunds, he said.
Infected travellers visited the Byron Beach Hotel, the Mokha Cafe, The Farm at Ewingsdale the Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park public toilets between March 26 and 28.
Anyone who was in Greater Brisbane on or since March 20 but has since left must follow the same lockdown rules as Greater Brisbane.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is also urging anyone planning a trip north over the Easter break to change their plans.
With public health alerts issued for venues as far north as Gladstone, NSW residents should avoid the whole state, she says.
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
