A Bondi Beach backpackers hostel in Sydney has been placed into lockdown for a second time due to fears of a Covid outbreak.
It is not yet known how many people were staying at Noah’s backpackers hostel or whether the Omicron strain of the virus was present.
A New South Wales police spokesperson confirmed NSW Health had requested the assistance of police at the hostel.
Officers were at the venue on Thursday night with the building cordoned off with police tape.
The hostel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was the site of a previous Covid scare in April 2020. It was forced to temporarily shut after people were seen gathered on a balcony allegedly ignoring social distancing mandates.
Noah’s describes itself as the “largest backpacker accommodation” at Bondi Beach.
Thursday’s lockdown comes as New South Wales recorded 420 local cases of Covid – the highest number since October.
Eight of the new cases were the Omicron variant, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the strain in the state to 42.
Health authorities are concerned case numbers will continue to surge due to transmission at festive season celebrations.
A trivia night at a Sydney pub has sparked a new cluster of cases, with 44 patrons testing positive for the virus after attending the popular Oxford Tavern in Petersham on 30 November.
Authorities are also concerned about 140 passengers who embarked on a Sydney Harbour cruise on Friday night, which has so far resulted in five cases of the Omicron variant.
NSW Health deputy chief health officer, Marianne Gale, said more infections are expected.
People who attended either venue are close contacts and must abide by testing and isolation rules.
NSW Health has also issued an alert for a nightclub in Byron Bay where thousands of teenagers are celebrating schoolies.
The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, is urging “confidence, hope and optimism” ahead of most social distancing restrictions ending mid-next week.
From 15 December, density limits will be scrapped, QR check-ins will only be required at high-risk venues, and masks will only have to be worn on public transport, at airports and on planes.
NSW now has 93% of adults fully vaccinated – just two percentage points short of the goal nominated by the state’s chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant.
– with Australian Associated Press
