The man who travelled to Byron Bay with his two children while infectious with Covid has been accused of not believing in the virus.The man is now being treated at Lismore Hospital as his case forced Byron Bay, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina local government areas into lockdown. Local business McTavish Surfboards representative Geoff Morgan said harsher penalties need to be introduced to deter people from flouting Covid restrictions given the impact on the wider community.“It’s amazing to me that one person can break all the rules, can secretly travel to Byron, affecting local towns and communities along the way, travel around while knowingly spreading the virus (and) there are no consequences for these people,” he said.“They are going to continue to do whatever they like, close down businesses, close down communities, with little regard.“If I was on the freeway and went 50km over the speed limit, I’d be locked up and put into jail. Why isn’t there a firm and clear law for people who are threatening people’s livelihoods, and worse, their lives?”Mr Morgan said the bubbling anger within regional communities was palpable after “regional people were having to sit on tractors in farms wearing a mask” but city dwellers “were going around coffee shops with no mask on”.Byron Mayor Michael Lyon said the traveller’s actions indicated he did not take the pandemic seriously.“Certainly, his actions are indicating he didn’t take it (Covid) seriously. He didn’t check into QR codes, he was infectious and sick for a number of days and aware of it, and it wasn’t until he was really sick that we became aware of it,” Mr Lyon said.“His children also had symptoms and likely had Covid.”Mr Lyon said he hopes the man is charged for his offences and not let off with a fine.“As I understand, this bloke may be charged. Certainly, it’s justified in this case. People are frustrated, outraged, it’s causing economic hardship, we’ve had some big impacts because of lockdown and other areas because of tourism. This is a hella blow.”The cases threw the four local government areas into lockdown at 6pm on Monday until 12.01am on Tuesday, August 17.Everyone who lives in the LGAs or anyone who has been there since July 31 are subject to the same rules as those living in Greater Sydney and the other locked down areas in regional NSW. Daily Telegraph – News Feed latest episode“We understand this is a difficult time for the community and appreciate their ongoing patience and co-operation,” NSW Health said in a statement on Monday evening.“We are asking people not to seek exceptions to the rules, but to ensure they comply with them so we do not see further cases of Covid-19 in the community.” The picturesque region was put on high alert earlier on Monday after the Sydney man was hospitalised with the virus.The man, who NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed was among Monday’s 283 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, registered a positive test in the coastal region of northern NSW as the virus continues to spread across the state. NAT – Stay Informed – Social Media
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