At least 100 Schoolies believed to be isolating in Byron Bay
At least 100 Schoolies in Byron Bay are believed to have been ordered to isolate after a COVID-19 case was detected in the Discovery Parks campground.
It’s understood the students have been banned from going into town and are only allowed to leave the park if they’re going straight back to their homes.
It comes as New South Wales recorded another significant jump in COVID-19 cases on Friday, prompting Premier Dominic Perrottet to flag possible restrictions for Newcastle.
The state recorded 2213 new infections in the past 24 hours
There are currently 215 cases admitted to hospital and 24 people in intensive care.
An unvaccinated woman in her 60s from the Northern Tablelands has died with the virus.
A total of 185 cases of the Omicron variant of concern have been confirmed in the state.
More than 93 per cent of eligible NSW residents are now fully vaccinated.
Mr Perrottet said the government will not introduce another lockdown ahead of Christmas for the state.
“It’s not time to have a knee jerk response and close down,” he said.
Mr Perrottet said as the Newcastle outbreak grows, the government may “tailor” restrictions to the region.
“If there are changes that need to be made, we will tailor those changes to the situation in front of us.”
The premier encouraged NSW residents to go out and enjoy Christmas.
“I hope everyone goes out and enjoys a fantastic Christmas and catches up with family and friends,” Mr Perrottet said.
Superspreader event at Sydney dance party
There are growing concerns that a dance party in Sydney last weekend was a superspreader event.
NSW Health has listed the “On Repeat: Taylor Swift Red Party” at Metro Theatre on December 10 as a close contact exposure site, where some cases are “likely” to be of the Omicron variant.
At least 97 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the event.
Anyone who attended the event from 9pm onwards must get tested and isolate for seven days.
More than 600 people attended the event.
Despite advice from the state’s Chief Health Officer, crowds descended on Sydney hospitality venues overnight.
Dr Kerry Chant said earlier this week for NSW residents to avoid social activities due to the state’s outbreak.
COVID-19 cluster in Newcastle grows
Another exposure site alert has also been issued this morning for a venue in Newcastle.
Anyone who attended The Great Northern Hotel from midday on Saturday December 11 until close should monitor for symptoms and get tested if they occur.
It comes as the COVID-19 outbreak in the Newcastle region continues to grow.
At least 674 of today’s infections are from the Hunter New England Local Health District.
This includes 308 from Newcastle and 190 from Lake Macquarie.
There are 2122 active cases of COVID-19 in the Hunter region.
Testing queues are continuing to grow today after people were turned away from clinics yesterday after the sites reached capacity.
Two men have been fined for allegedly breaching self-isolation orders and travelling to Newcastle, the epicentre of the state’s Omicron outbreak.
The men allegedly were deemed close contacts of the Sydney boat party outbreak but ignored health orders to isolate and attended the Argyle House nightclub on Wharf Road, Newcastle.
